Both Referendum proposals rejected in Meath

Overwhelming No vote for amendments

Meath has voted overwhelmingly to reject the two amendments to the Constitution put forward by the Government in Friday’s referendums.

In Meath East, the 39th Amendment (Family) was rejected by over 67 per cent of the electorate, with 20,931 voters opposing it, and 10,035 in favour, out of a total valid poll of 31,176.

The total electorate is 67,867. In Trim, the Meath West count returned almost a 72 per cent No vote, with 21,157 of the total electorate of 29,732 rejecting the proposal. The electorate in Meath West is 74,871.

In Meath East, the 40th Amendment on Care has been rejected by 73 per cent of the electorate, 22,942 against a Yes vote of 7,993, Returning Officer Kevin Martin reported in Ashbourne.

In Meath West, 29, 382 voters opposed the Care proposals, with 6,542 Yes votes.

The returning officer for the Meath West Constituency Des Foley gave details of spoiled and invalid ballot papers. Forty papers had uncertain marks on them but were “given the benefit of the doubt”.

Some 28 had writing on them including “Free Gaza”, “Confused”, “Free Palestine”, “Make Ireland great again”, “I support Tom Clonan”, “Not sure”, and “RTE”.

Local area Aontú representative for Ashbourne Brandon Scott said that the lack of political opposition to the referenda was a damning indictment of how politics has become inaccessible for so many.

Aontú was the only political party to advocate for a no vote to both proposals, and 26-year-old Mr Scott insisted today that “the disconnect between political parties and the electorate has never been more pronounced”.

Speaking in the count centre, Scott said: “I’m delighted that the voters have correctly understood that this was a campaign marked by Government virtue signalling that was not going to make a difference to the bread-and-butter issues affecting ordinary struggling citizens”.

However, he added that the Government must be held to account for the huge waste of taxpayers’ money and the way the proposals were handled.

“These amendments were forced through the Oireachtas without many of the typical procedures being adhered to such as pre-legislative scrutiny. They also differ dramatically from what was proposed by the citizens’ assembly.

“To spend over €20 million on a meaningless husk of an amendment that would’ve only injected confusion into our Constitution, and provided no material change for carers is very frustrating.

“We in Aontú have repeatedly said that the current wording around women’s duties in the home is archaic, and we would like to see it changed – but not at the expense of the word ‘mothers’ in the constitution.

"As has also been recognised by Independent Senator Tom Clonan, himself a carer to his son, these proposals provided no tangible commitment to those who lovingly provide care in this country, added Scott. ‘Strive’ is not a commitment."

“I also believe the conduct of purported ‘opposition parties’ has been nothing short of disgraceful throughout this campaign. They’re scurrying around trying to put the blame on everyone else. Even going as far as to say that the electorate didn’t grasp the proposals properly. This is classism of a pernicious degree and it’s a condescension the good voters of Ireland don’t deserve – they’re making politics inaccessible to decent people. What did they expect when they were proposing to insert undefined terms into the constitution? I’m glad the electorate didn’t understand it because nor did I – we’re displaying what is called common sense.

“I’m very proud of our leader Peadar Tóibín. We have been the only political party in the Oireachtas challenging the inextricably entwined Government and NGOs, because we actually listen to the people and take on their concerns.

“This is a watershed moment. In the face of no credible political opposition in Ireland, Aontú will deliver for ordinary people and what the people of Ireland need – not the vested interests."