Ireland will take ‘step backwards’ if it votes against constitution changes, says Varadkar

Changes to language about women in the home' and definition of a family will be put to referendum on Friday

Ireland will be taking a step backwards" this week if it votes against two changes to the constitution that are designed to remove old-fashioned" language about women and formally recognise families beyond those involving marriage, the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has said.

In a double referendum on Friday, the Irish public will be asked to support the deletion of two clauses in the 1937 constitution, including the women in the home" provision, and the enshrining of two proposed amendments.