Referendum to remove 'sexist' reference from Constitution may not take place this November

Well-placed sources say the promised vote is 'not realistic' as a referendum bill cannot be passed until the week of September 20 at the earliest

Members of the Oireachtas committee on gender equality on July 13, 2022, launching their recommendation for a referendum to remove the 'woman in the home'  clause from the Constitution. Picture: Maxwells

Holding a promised referendum to remove a ‘sexist’ reference to women in the home in November is now “not realistic”, ministers have warned.

Following the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar committed to holding a vote in November to remove what is seen as an archaic reference to women in the home.