Group representing one-parent families calls for Yes votes in referendum

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

An organisation representing one-parent families is calling for two Yes votes in the upcoming referendum, saying that it would go towards “addressing injustices” in Irish history.

Two referenda are to be held on March 8th to amend Ireland’s constitution.

One will ask whether the definition of family should be based on “durable” relationships rather than on marriage (Article 41), and another will ask whether a reference to the role and duties of women in the home should be deleted and replaced with a new article on carers (Article 41.2 replaced with 42B).

One Family said the referenda on March 8th offer “a unique opportunity to end the exclusion” of children and couples in unmarried families from the Irish Constitution, pointing out that 40% of children are being born to parents who are not married to each other.

It also said that it represents “represents a significant step towards addressing the injustices faced by single and unmarried parents throughout Irish history”.

Mary Kerrigan became an unmarried mother in 1972 and went on to run One Family’s precursor, Cherish, in counties Clare and Limerick.

“When I was out with my baby in the 1970s Limerick and Clare, people would say who owns the baby? I would answer I do,” she said.

“The next comment was I did not know you got married. I would say I didn’t. End of conversation. During that time, an unmarried mother and her child were not welcome in our society.

“I volunteered with Cherish for 15 years and the women of Cherish were responsible for campaigning to change much of the discrimination that existed, but here we are 52 years later still campaigning to be brought included in our most basic document – our Constitution.”

Breda Murray, a single mother and a grandmother, explained how she has some children who are Constitutionally protected and some that are not: “My two eldest children were born to me in an unmarried relationship and my last two children were born in a marriage that has now ended.

“There is absolutely no difference in how I love them and care for them, and no difference for them in how they love me as their mother.

“It is disappointing that our Constitution makes this unnecessary distinction between my children as two live in a Constitutional family and two do not.

“Ireland must change this archaic and discriminatory clause so that all children can receive the same rights and protections as each other whether their parents are married or not.”

The chief executive of One Family Karen Kiernan said: “We are standing on the shoulders of hundreds of thousands of children and parents, particularly mothers, who were shamed, incarcerated, and forcibly torn apart from each other because of the absolute privileging of marriage in our Constitution and a society that supported this.

“One Family is also advocating for a Yes vote in relation to care and the removal of outdated sexist language from the Constitution and the replacement with gender-neutral recognition of care within the family, reflecting the reality of family life today.

“These forward-thinking referendums aim to promote greater equality for all families, including those involved in receiving and providing care and support.”