Children's referendum passed amid low turnout
Asked in Killarney last night about the low turnout, Mr Kenny said in some countries it was compulsory to vote. However, this was a democracy and people couldn’t be forced to vote, he said, adding that holding a referendum on a Saturday made little difference.
No campaigner Kathy Sinnott said the real losers are the children of Ireland and their parents "who have now lost their right to protect them". The former Munster MEP said she is worried for democracy because the State has lied and cheated and got away with it. She said the referendum is "contaminated" in her view.
She called for the resignation of Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald following the Children’s Referendum
“The amount of people voting no shows that the leadership in this country is out of touch. Heads should roll after this. Frances Fitzgerald’s position is untenable.”
No campaigner John Waters said the 42 per cent of people who voted no was a “fantastic achievement.”
“I’m very disappointed that we didn’t defeat the Government on this but the significant number of people who voted no was a great achievement for the No side.”
“When you consider that all the major political parties, the church and media were all mainly in favour of the Yes vote and had greater resources for advertising and promoting a Yes vote then what the No side have achieved is remarkable.”
Solicitor Malachy Steenson said a challenge to the referendum was “up for discussion.”
“There are huge questions this State has to answer. If I was the Minister in this current Government I wouldn’t be too complacent because a damning indictment of their policies has been delivered today,” he said.
There have been 36 referendums in the State’s history on issues ranging from abortion to bail, citizenship to the voting system. The record low turnout was in June 1979 when just 28.6 per cent voted in the referendums to change the adoption laws and the franchise for the Seanad university seats. The turnout in the fiscal treaty referendum last May was 50 per cent.
All political parties - both in Government and Opposition - had campaigned for a ‘Yes’ vote. Others supporting a ‘Yes’ vote include leading children’s charities the ISPCC, Barnardo’s, the Children’s Rights Alliance and lobby group Campaign for Children.
Table: REFERENDUM RESULTS BY CONSTITUENCY
Scroll right for more figures.
