Ireland kickstarts vote on constitution’s wording about women and family

Chair of Ireland’s Electoral Commission, Marie Baker, flanked by chief executive Art O'Leary, left, and Tim Carey, head of electoral operations, at the launch of the campaign in Dublin. Photograph: Grainne Ni Aodha/PA

Ireland has fired the starting gun on two referendums to widen the constitution’s concept of family and the role of women in society.

The Irish Electoral Commission launched an independent information campaign for the twin votes on 8 March, which, if passed, will remove the constitution’s reference to women’s “duties in the home”.