On 8 March, a government referendum proposed to change the Irish Constitution by extending the definition of the family (Amendment 39) and replacing Article 41.2 on the work of mothers in the home with wording that diminished the State’s obligation to support caring in the home and outside (Amendment 40).
The government suffered a comprehensive defeat as both proposals were voted down by the electorate by a large margin. In the family referendum, the No vote was 67.7%; in the care referendum, the No vote was 73.9%. The latter is the highest ever No vote in a referendum in the history of the State. Read our statement on this outcome here.
Contact us directly: +353 87 783 8688 Ireland@globalwomenstrike.net
Recent news from GWS Ireland
Maggie Ronayne, GWS Ireland at International Women’s Day march, Belfast in the North of Ireland
Maggie Ronayne from the Global Women’s Strike in Ireland speaking out against war, genocide and military spending and for a care income at the IWD march and rally, Belfast in the North of Ireland on 7th March 2026.
Margaretta D’Arcy – our dearest sister in struggle
We mourn the loss of our beloved sister in struggle, Margaretta D’Arcy, and we offer our deepest condolences to all her family, friends and movement colleagues. Margaretta was a bold, fearless and determined campaigner against war and imperialism, and for women. Throughout her life, she used her many talents as an actor, playwright, writer, broadcaster…
Defend Ireland’s Neutrality – Keep The Triple Lock! Calling on all women to defend the triple lock and stop the government from abandoning neutrality! Resist, sisters, resist!
DEFEND IRELAND’S NEUTRALITY – KEEP THE TRIPLE LOCK! Statement by: Raging Grannies, Red Umbrella Éireann, Street Workers Collective of Ireland& Global Women’s Strike Ireland Calling on all women to defend the triple lock and stop the government from abandoning neutrality! Resist, sisters, resist! We women say + NO to war + NO to war hysteria…
Defend Ireland’s neutrality – keep the triple lock!
The Triple Lock is a key part of the current means of keeping Ireland out of wars. The Triple Lock means that to send more than 12 soldiers on an overseas mission, there needs to be approval from the Irish government, the Dáil and the UN (authorised by either the UN Security Council or the…
Irish Referendum results: not a return to the Ireland of the past, but the rejection of a government which denies its responsibilities.
On 8 March, a government referendum proposed to change the Irish Constitution by extending the definition of the family (Amendment 39) and replacing Article 41.2 on the work of mothers in the home with wording that diminished the State’s obligation to support caring in the home and outside (Amendment 40). The government suffered a comprehensive…
Letter: to the Government of Ireland, in relation to the proposed wording of the amendments to the Irish constitution on Women and Family
We write as women’s and community organisations with concerns about the proposed wording of the Amendments to the Irish Constitution on Women and the Family, which are to go to referendum in March 2024, and are scheduled to be discussed in the Dáil this week. Having been tasked by the Government with bringing forward proposals…
Statement: International Women’s Day 2021
Global Women’s Strike & Women of Colour GWS – International Women’s Day 2021 CARING for PEOPLE and PLANET Against POVERTY and DICTATORSHIP Women (and men) in a number of countries are calling for a Care Income Now!, an income for all those – beginning with women, the first carers everywhere, and extending to all genders…
Letter: Evidence to the Citizens Assembly, Ireland
From Maggie Ronayne, lecturer at NUI Galway, trade unionist and co-ordinator of the Global Women’s Strike, Ireland. Dear members of the Citizens Assembly, I write representing the Ireland branch of an international women’s network which has been working on the recognition of caring work for decades; as a carer for my mother; as an academic (archaeologist)…
Media: Invisibility would undermine carers’ struggle for equity
THE IRISH TIMES, Fri, Jul 13, 2018 By Maggie Ronayne Family Carers Ireland estimates there are 200,000 family carers, but the means-tested carer’s allowance is only €214 per week for caring for one person. Abolishing the Constitution’s recognition of caring work done within the family would be a disservice to those doing this work.…
Invisibility would undermine carers’ struggle for equity
Abolishing the Constitution’s recognition of caring work done within the family would be a disservice to those doing this work Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 05:11Maggie Ronayne4 Family Carers Ireland estimates there are 200,000 family carers, but the means-tested carer’s allowance is only €214 per week for caring for one person. Photograph: Getty ImagesShare to FacebookShare…