'Two wallops': Resounding defeats as country votes no in family and care referenda 

Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Both referenda have been resoundingly defeated by the Government, with more than 70% of voters rejecting proposals on care.

The results of the care amendment, announced at Dublin Castle, saw 73.9% of voters go against the proposed change to the constitution. In the family referendum, 67.69% voted no.

In total, 1,114,620 people voted to reject the Government’s proposed changes to the Constitution around care, compared to 393,053 voters in favour.

Overall 73.9% of people voted no, compared to 26.1% who voted in favour of the care referendum.

There were a total of 1,525,221 ballots cast in the care referendum.

Every single constituency across the country voted against the care referendum, while just Dún Laoghaire voted in favour of the family referendum.

Earlier, the referendum on family saw more than 67% of voters rejecting the proposal. 

The results showed there were 487,564 votes in favour of the proposal compared to 1,021,546 against.

The first constituency in the country to report back was Cork South Central, which overwhelmingly voted against it. In total, 61.3% of voters rejected the wording.

Only one constituency voted in favour of the proposal – Dún Laoghaire – at a very slim margin of 50.3% in favour to 49.7% against.

Overall, 67.69% of people voted no, compared to 32.31% voting in favour. 

Turnout was higher than expected, with over 40% of the electorate coming out to cast a ballot on Friday. 

However, it was significantly lower than the most recent standalone referendum – Repeal the 8th – where there was a 64% turnout.

Ahead of the vote being announced, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar accepted that the Government had lost the referenda, saying they had received “two wallops” from the electorate.

Mr Varadkar said that both had been “defeated comprehensively on a respectable turnout”.

Refenda Returning Officer Barry Ryan. Picture: Damien Storan/PA Wire

“The Government accepts the result and will respect it fully. As head of Government, on behalf of Government, we accept responsibility for the results,” Mr Varadkar said.

“It was our responsibility to convince the majority of people to vote yes and we clearly failed to do so.

“I think we struggled to convince people of the necessity or need for the referendum at all, let alone detail of the wording and that’s obviously something we’re going to have to reflect on.” 

Tánaiste Micheál Martin also accepted the results, saying that the “majority were not persuaded by the arguments for changing the Constitution in this way”.

No campaigners celebrate at Dublin Castle as the result is announced in the first of the twin referenda to change the Constitution on family and care. Picture: Damien Storan/PA Wire

“It is a core strength of our Constitution that the people have the final say. We fully respect their decision.” 

 Mr Martin said that there was no “single reason” as to why the referendums were defeated, adding that the Government needed to reflect on this matter.