Referendums on the constitutional references to family and the role of women in the home will be held in March.

Cabinet this morning signed off on plans to hold two referendums – one on Article 41 of the Constitution and another on Article 41.2.

The referendums will be held on March 8th, 2024.

The first would amend Article 41 to “provide for a wider concept of Family” in the Constitution.

The second would delete Article 41.2 to remove the reference to the role of women in the home and insert a new Article 42B to recognise family care.

The Government said the General Scheme of the Family Amendment would change Article 41.1.1 to insert the words “whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships”.

It would also change Article 41.3.1 to delete the words “on which the Family is founded”.

The General Scheme of the Care Amendment would delete Article 41.2 from the Constitution and replace it with a new Article 42B reading:

“The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision.”

Should the plan be approved by the Oireachtas, An Coimisiún Toghcháin (The Electoral Commission) will publish a general explanation of the changes and begin work promoting public awareness of the referendums.