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On mark UN International Day of the Family, One Family is calling for a change to article 41.3 of the Constitution on the definition of the Family. We are calling for definition in the Constitution to be expanded to give rights and protection to all family forms; currently, the Constitution only recognises the married family. We are now hopefully on the verge of achieving a vote on this change with the referendum on Family, Care and Equality due to take place in November. The final wording of the referendum questions have not been finalised, but we know there is a commitment from Government to ensure that all families receive Constitutional protection. We need your support the ensure Government keep to their commitments and to help us in any campaign in the referendum.
For more information on article 41.3 click here: To join the campaign click here
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Ciara Conway T.D. has kindly given us permission to share the following information. Following our meeting with Ciara and our two page budget analysis, she raised several issues about the budget cuts with Minister Burton. Minister Burton’s letter of response is enclosed here and this is One Family Director Karen Kiernan’s response to Ciara Conway:
Dear Ciara,
Many thanks for corresponding with Minister Burton on our behalf. Whilst the letter provides factual information and some of it is drawn from the letter that will shortly go to parents in relation to the One-Parent Family Payment unfortunately it is still not clear what the Department’s strategy is in this area, what policy and research this was based on and how they will ameliorate the poor education levels of parents, the lack of employment and the absolute dearth of afterschool care.
Regrettably it has become clear to me that these cuts were made without reference to policy or research but were simply a means of cutting the budget without touching the principal rates of social welfare payments. What is even more unfortunate is that so many of these cuts have fallen on the shoulders of the poorest families and children in Ireland. One Family and our members will continue to speak and advocate on these issues and we appreciate your assistance to date and we look forward to working with you in the future.
Best wishes, Karen
Please make one-parent families an issue in the election by asking canvassers these questions:
1 What will your party do in government to reduce the very high poverty rates experienced by one-parent families?
2 What are your views on the recent social welfare changes that require lone parents whose youngest child is over 14 to go on to Jobseekers Allowance rather than on the One-Parent Family Payment?
3 Do you believe that the definition of the family in the constitution should be changed? (Currently only the marital family is recognised in the Irish constitution). If not, why not?
For a more detailed list of ten questions and helpful up-to-date statistics on one-parent families see here
