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‘Maybe more groundwork should have been done’ – Heather Humphreys admits shortcomings in Family and Care referendums

Heather Humphreys said that “more groundwork should have been done” in informing the public about the terms of the Family and Care referendums held in 2024.

In March of last year, voters overwhelmingly rejected changes to the Constitution in two referendums.

One concerned the wording around to include families who are not based on marriage, which was defeated with 68pc voting no.

The other proposed altering the wording around women’s role in the home, also defeated by a margin of 74pc of people voting no.

“When I look back now, I think perhaps there should have been more groundwork done.”

“People didn’t understand what a durable relationship was,” she said.

When asked if her Government failed in anticipating the level of rejection of the amendment proposals, Ms Humphreys conceded defeat.

“People are sovereign, they made the decision. I absolutely respect their decision. When you when you put things out to a referendum, the people are generally right.”

She also admitted to using “vague” terminology to determine what was at stake for voters.

“The term ‘durable relationship’ was very vague, and the idea of striving support care, it wasn’t strong enough.”

She continued: “People were in doubt about it. They weren’t sure. And the old saying goes: ‘If in doubt, leave it out.’ And that’s what the people decided.”

However, she defended her part in the failure of both referendums as director of elections at the time, insisting that the Government acted upon recommendations from the Citizens Assembly.

“This came from a Citizens Assembly. There was a very strong recommendation from a Citizens Assembly that the words ‘woman in the home’ should be taken out of the Constitution, and of course that that we should recognise other partnerships other than marriage, she said.