'Vote No' poster claiming women will be forced out to work 'incorrect', says electoral watchdog

The poster was erected on behalf of Independent senator Sharon Keogan

A 'Vote No' poster erected on behalf of Independent senator Sharon Keogan is a 'factual misrepresentation' of this Friday’s vote, the Electoral Commission has said.

The Electoral Commission has said a 'Vote No' poster erected on behalf of Independent senator Sharon Keogan is a “factual misrepresentation” of this Friday’s vote.

The posters, which read “Don’t force mothers out to work… Vote No”, have been erected in locations around Dublin in recent days.

However, in a statement on Tuesday, Electoral Commission chairwoman and Supreme Court judge Ms Justice Marie Baker said the poster is an “incorrect representation” of the amendment to the Constitution which people are being asked to vote on this Friday.

“An Coimisiún Toghcháin is clear that one of the posters which have been posted in a number of areas in Dublin and elsewhere under the imprint of senator Sharon Keoghan is an incorrect representation of what people are being asked to vote on this Friday,” said Ms Justice Baker.

“People should be aware that there is nothing in the Constitution or in either of the two referendum proposals which will force women to go out to work or to stay at home. To suggest otherwise is a factual misrepresentation of the existing text or the two proposals.” 

'Taken aback'

In response, Ms Keogan criticised the Electoral Commission, saying she is “deeply concerned and taken aback” by its intervention.

“Firstly, the commission never contacted me in relation to the matter prior to issuing a statement in relation to me,” said Ms Keogan.

“Secondly, the commission has consistently and completely ignored the obvious truth that the Supreme Court has on two important occasions in the L v L case [1992] 2 IR 77 and the LT v CT case [2002] 3 IR 334 relied on Article 41.2 to reject any suggestion that, when assessing alimony and maintenance, and in making proper provision for mothers in divorce orders to protect women who are parenting in the home, they can be obliged by economic necessity to seek work outside the home against their wishes.

“Thirdly, the commission is duty bound by statute and by the Constitution to be impartial in its information.

“There is absolutely no excuse for its blatant failure to alert the public that the section proposed to be deleted has been relied on by the Supreme Court to protect women from being obliged by economic necessity against their wishes to seek work outside the home in such cases.”