WOMEN split 50/30 on divorce, 54 per cent of men favoured it, 71 per cent of widows were opposed while 77 per cent of separated people supported it. For the first time, an Irish Times MRBJ divorce survey has exposed the societal divisions on a major social/moral issue.
This profile of Yes and No voters, conducted on November 24th, differed by only 1.3 per cent from the actual referendum outcome. It represented the clearest picture to date of those elements which combined to favour the introduction of divorce.
While the official count on November 25th showed 64 per cent of Dub liners voted Yes, compared to 43 per cent for the rest of the State, there could be no demographic breakdown due to the nature of the plebiscite. But the Irish Times/MRBI survey provided this information, within a tight range of statistical error for the first time.
The challenge to the result of the referendum 50.3 per cent in favour and 49.7 against will come up next week in the High Court. Mr Des Hanafin is taking it on the grounds that unconstitutional Government spending affected the result, thereby rendering it void.
The Government has decided to postpone the introduction of a Divorce Bill before the Dail until that legal challenge has been decided. And, if the courts uphold the result, the Government would hope to have divorce legislation in place by next summer.
The survey confirmed the gulf between young and old voters over the removal of the divorce ban from the Constitution. Excluding undecideds two thirds of all voters in the 18 to 34 age categories voted Yes, while three quarters of those over 63 voted No. In the 33 to 49 age group 33 per cent voted Yes while in the 30 to 64 age group. 37 per cent voted No.
Women divided evenly an whether the divorce ban should be removed, but 34 per cent of men voted in favour at giving couples a second chance. Married people also divided evenly an the issue, and single people favoured change by a margin of 38 per cent.
Widowed people farmed the group most opposed to the introduction of divorce legislation, at 71 per cent, while separated people were most in favour, at 77 per cent.
A significant urban/rural divide emerged, with 39 per cent of city dwellers committed to the introduction of divorce, compared to 42 per cent of country dwellers. Within these groupings, big farmers were most opposed to change, 76 per cent being committed to voting No, as against 69 per cent far small farmers.
Middle class voters were most disposed towards constitutional change at 37 per cent.
But working class sentiment was also strongly committed and 33 per cent of those surveyed wanted divorce legislation.
The divorce referendum day survey did not question respondents an their political affiliations and preferences.