Government to sign off on referendum to remove 'sexist' women in the home reference

The definition of family will also be broadened

The wording of two questions that will be put to the public on International Women’s Day will be brought to Cabinet by Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman.

The Government is to sign off on a referendum to remove a ‘sexist’ reference to women in the home on Tuesday, paving the way for a March 8 vote.

The wording of two questions that will be put to the public on International Women’s Day will be brought to Cabinet by Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman.

The first part of the referendum will seek to remove the reference to a woman’s place in the home and will replace it with a recognition of carers. The definition of family being solely based on marriage will also be broadened to become more inclusive.

SME supports

Separately, details of a €257m package of once-off financial supports for small and medium businesses is to be brought to the Government on Tuesday.

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney has drafted the grants scheme which aims to address increased costs, with funds being paid out to 143,000 companies in the new year.

The grant is a once-off payment, not a rates rebate. The rates system has been used to identify qualifying business in order to keep administration of the grants to a minimum for businesses.

Mr Coveney will tell Cabinet that businesses that paid up to €10,000 in rates will receive a payment equivalent to a 50% return.

Businesses that paid between €10,000 and €30,000 will receive a once-off payment of €5,000 each.

Extradition talks

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Helen McEntee is to seek Cabinet approval to open formal negotiations with the UAE that would allow for the extradition of Kinahan cartel members and other criminals.

She will tell Cabinet that bilateral treaties between Ireland and the UAE on mutual legal assistance and extradition would be of significant support in tackling organised crime and transnational drug trafficking gangs.

Ms McEntee will also tell her colleagues it is important that criminals see that there can be no hiding place from the law and that the State will do everything in its power to bring those who spread misery in our communities to justice.

However, sources have stressed that “bilateral co-operation” can happen in tandem with these discussions to allow extraditions to take place before the final agreement is reached. This happened in the case of Italy and Belgium.

The move follows high-level engagement between Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the UAE authorities, including his visit to Dubai in recent weeks to meet with lieutenant general Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri.

Student visa rules

Separately, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris will inform Cabinet of tighter rules for student visas, which will come into force next year.

Schools that do not pass the statutory regulatory regime through the International Education Mark system will not be eligible to recruit international students. English language students will not be eligible for a visa unless attending a school with the International Education Mark.