One Family Devastated by No Result in the Family Referendum

Karen Kiernan, One Family CEO said: “To say that we as an organisation are devastated by this result is an understatement. It is so disappointing that this opportunity to include unmarried and single parent families in our Constitution has been rejected by the Irish people.

Our founders have been campaigning for this for over 50 years. They started working in the 1970s to abolish illegitimacy, to get a small social welfare payment and to ensure single parents could no longer be fired or evicted. The fact that their heartfelt desire for their families to be included in the Constitution is no longer a reality in their lifetimes is a massive rejection to them.

I would like to thank the Irish voters for their consideration of these amendments, for all our amazing staff, Board, volunteers and spokespersons. It has been a pleasure to work with them all and now we will regroup as a coalition of civil society organisations to work in solidarity towards a more equal Ireland for all people – children, parents, families, disabled people, carers and others that are often left behind.”