32% of electorate vote in referendum

 

LESS than one-third of the electorate voted in the Children’s Referendum in Clare last Saturday, with over 60% of those in favour of the amendment.

The eligible electorate in Clare last Saturday consisted of 79,905 voters. However, just 25,808 (32.3%) of those voted.

There were 94 invalid papers, leaving a total valid poll of 25,714. Some 15,868 (61.71%) voted in favour, with 9,846 (38.29%) against.

The vote in Clare was proportionately lower than for the country as a whole, even though the national turnout was just 33.49%. The size of the yes vote in Clare was also higher than in most constituencies, as the national yes vote was 58%.

Clare TD Joe Carey said it was a good result for the welfare of children. “We now have a Constitutional framework around which we can construct a better society for our children and ensure that never again will children be systematically abused and neglected in silence. Our children should be both seen and heard and this yes vote ensures that the apparatus of the State will be compelled to do both. I am proud of that fact.”

While he said the national media had left it late to engage with the campaign, he said that The Clare Champion and Clare FM had played a “constructive role”.

He said it was a difficult campaign. “We have now had six referendums in recent decades with a turnout lower than 35% and that is something that cannot be easily explained. The challenge with this referendum was that every elected TD, bar one, was in favour of the proposal, while all the political parties in the State also supported it. It had the backing of every major agency dealing on a daily basis with children and so it became difficult to have a genuine debate and teasing out of the issues. What we saw happen was extreme views take hold.”

He also claimed the court judgement the week of the election had an impact on the turnout and final result.

The Government will take action quickly, he claimed. “Coupled with this result, the Government is already moving ahead with new structures and policies in relation to child welfare. We have, for the first time, a dedicated Minister for Children and the establishment of the new Family and Child Services Agency is most welcome.

“During the last budget, in very trying economic times, we allocated an additional €40 million to child welfare and this work will continue. I am also looking forward to Minister Alan Shatter’s review of the in-camera rule for certain family law cases. This is something many campaigners have been calling for and I think it merits further examination.”

Deputy Pat Breen said he was pleased with the Clare vote. “This referendum was one of the most important ever put before the people and while I am disappointed with the low turnout, the overwhelming number of voters in Clare, who did come out and vote, supported the referendum.”
Deputy Breen acknowledged the work of Pat Wallace and his team for conducting the count on Sunday.

“The passage of the referendum is another major step in ensuring our legislative structure supports and protects our children. It ensures a more child-centred approach is taken so the best interests of the child are taken into account when decisions are being made about their welfare.”