The proposed Constitutional changes the country will soon be asked to vote on are badly worded and should be rejected, according to Newstalk presenter Sinead Ryan.

The referendums on whether to change the definition of the family and remove the reference to the role of women in the home are fast approaching on March 8th.

Ahead of the vote, some have raised concerns about the exact wording of the proposed changes, including Ms Ryan. 

She told Newstalk Breakfast she plans on voting no, but as a “protest vote”. 

“It's about doing better, trying better, finding better words,” she said. “I just feel that the chosen amendment is a complete cop out.” 

The first referendum on March 8th seeks to change the definition of the family from being based on marriage to being based on “durable relationships”.

Ms Ryan said there are “tons and tons” of other relationships out there, and she has no issue with them being represented in the constitution. 

“However, they are replacing it with ‘marriage or other durable relationships’, while also retaining the bit that says we will guard marriage with special care,” she said. 

“There's no definition of what that means – what is a durable relationship? Who gets to decide that? 

“This has serious implications, with my financial hat on, for pensions, for state pensions, welfare payments in the future.” 

Referendum wording 'worse'

Ms Ryan also said the plan to replace the reference to the role of women in the home with a new article recognising family care will make things “worse” for carers.

She noted that the current wording that the Government will “endeavour” to support women working in the home “doesn’t work”. 

“Now, they’re replacing with 'endeavour to ensure’ to ‘strive to support’,” she said. 

“Support is definitely a lesser word, to me, than ensure. 

“It's becoming, ‘we're not even going to endeavour to ensure we're going to try our best.’

“They've never tried their best since the Constitution came into place.” 

Ms Ryan said the provision about women in Búnreacht na hÉireann should “just should be taken out” rather than replaced. 

People in favour of the referendum have argued the change is a "long-time coming". Others have pointed out the “gender neutral care provision” is more inclusive of all carers and is not an "attack" on women.