Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has dismissed claims that holding a referendum on “girls's place within the dwelling” on Worldwide Ladies's Day is “patronising” as he defended holding the vote on March eight.
This follows his feedback Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh that she “wished” that the referendum on care and increasing the definition of household had been held on one other day.
In an interview with the Irish Mirror final week in Strasbourg, the Midlands North West MEP argued that holding referendums concurrently native and European elections in June would give him extra time to debate the problem.
READ MORE: Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh's 'wishes' referendum not being held on International Women's Day
In response to Ms Walsh's remarks, the Taoiseach instructed the Irish Mirror that there have been many different votes going down in June.
“We checked out holding it on the identical day because the native and European elections. That was an possibility that was thought-about,” Mr Varadkar stated.
“However on that day, some individuals will have already got 4 poll papers. It's the native elections, the European elections, the patent court docket referendum, the Mayor of Limerick and in some elements of the nation the Údarás na Gaeltachta elections.
“We simply thought six ballots in in the future was a bit a lot and it deserved to be held by itself day.”
Varadkar stated the very fact the referendum is being held on March eight “is just not a motive to vote sure or no” and he doesn’t consider it would have an effect on anybody.
He additionally stated he initially needed to carry the referendum in November.
When instructed that some girls steered that holding a referendum on Worldwide Ladies's Day was “patronising”, Mr. Varadkar stated individuals ought to learn the wording within the Structure.
“What’s being talked about is a lady's duties at dwelling and the concept that a lady can neglect her duties at dwelling,” he stated.
“This isn’t the sort of trendy language that I believe each younger lady or middle-aged and even older lady desires to see in our Structure proper now.
“The truth that we’re extending the safety given to carers to male carers in addition to feminine carers doesn’t take something away from girls.
“It simply acknowledges that males can present care, too. That's why it's performed.”