Constitutional definition of family could be question in upcoming referendum, court told

Case centres around Tipperary man who appealed to the Supreme Court the refusal by Department of Social Protection to grant him the widower's pension on grounds he was not married to his late partner

John O'Meara with his children after his Supreme Court appeal over his entitlement to the widower's pension was adjourned on Thursday. Picture: Collins Courts

The public might soon be asked to vote via referendum on the constitutional definition of a family contained in Article 41 of the Irish Constitution, the Attorney General has told the Supreme Court.

Rossa Fanning disclosed to the seven-judge court that the possibility of putting the issue to a vote was “under discussion”.