LATEST: Results for family and care referendums for all Cork constituencies

LATEST 

Results from the care referendum show that the majority of voters in all five Cork constituencies voted 'No'. 

In Cork East there were 28,320 'No' votes and 9,619 'Yes' votes. 

In Cork North West, 23,217 people voted 'No' and 8,335 people voted 'Yes'. 

In Cork South West there were 19,486 'No' votes and 8,943 'Yes' votes. 

In Cork South Central, 28,235 'No' votes were made with 11,838 'Yes' votes and in Cork North Central there were 27,440 'No' votes and 8,687 'Yes' votes. 

The majority of voters in all five constituencies in Cork also voted 'No' in the family referendum. 

In Cork North Central, of 36,639 valid votes (invalid 452), 24,933 people voted 'No' and 11,254 voted 'Yes'.

Cork South Central was among the first constituencies from which results were announced. 

The electorate for that area is 89,739 with 40,480 valid votes made (348 invalid votes). 

There were 24,628 'No' votes and 15,504 'Yes' votes. 

In Cork East, of 37,973 valid votes, there were 12,048 'Yes' votes and 25,925 'No' votes. 

In Cork South West, there were 10,886 'Yes' votes and 17,555 'No' votes. 

In Cork North West, there were 21,133 'No' votes and 10,447 'Yes' votes. 

National results 

Nationally, close to 70 per cent of voters voted 'No' in the family referendum. 

The referendum returning officer Barry Ryan made the official declaration at Dublin Castle just before 7pm.

Turnout for the referenda was 44.36%, a significant drop from the abortion referendum in 2018 which saw a turnout of 64%.

Voters also rejected the Government’s referendum to change the country’s Constitution on care. 

Some 73.93% of voters voted 'No' with 26.07% voting 'Yes'. 

Speaking in Nemo Rangers today, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that the Government fully accepts the decision of the people. 

"We will continue to work supporting families and supporting care both inside and outside of the home. We will continue to do that in budgets and through Government policy.

"There is no single reason why these proposals were rejected and, like all who supported them, we will reflect on this over time."

"Every single party bar one in the Oireachtas supported these amendments and for 30 years people have been seeking to amend the Constitution in respect of the definition surrounding women."

"The people have spoken and we will now reflect on that," he said. ]

The Cork TD said there is no one reason for why these amendments were lost.

"I think if I was to suggest - there probably wasn't a compelling proposition for these amendments that was sufficient to garner support for them."

"They were modest amendments but not persuasive enough for people to support them."

Asked about the possibility of a re-ballot he said: "No, I don't think so. The people have spoken. There was an assumption that for 20 years people were exercised about the wording of the Constitution in respect of women."

"I don't want to be overly interpreting the result but the people have spoken emphatically in respect of the two propositions. So, certainly not in the lifetime of this Government. 

"It is now up to other political parties," he said adding, "I know that Sinn Féin were saying that they would re-run this if it was defeated but I think that maybe they will reflect on that."

"It is an emphatic decision by the people."

"Future parties can make a decision on this - that is the nature of democracy."

"I fully accept the decision of the Irish people. It is one of the great strengths of the Irish Constitution that people have choices in terms of either amending or adding to the Constitution."

"On this occasion people decided not to accept the proposition. It is a living document - one of the great attributes of that document is giving the power to the people to decide when or not there should be changes."

EARLIER 

The first formal results from the referendum on family care have been announced. 

Cork South Central was among the first constituencies from which results were announced. 

The electorate for that area is 89,739 with 40,480 valid votes made (348 invalid votes). 

There were 24,628 No votes and 15,504 yes votes. 

Tánaiste and Cork South Central TD Micheál Martin said this afternoon that the result of the referendums on family and care is clear. 

"The majority were not persuaded by the arguments for changing the Constitution in this way. 

"It is a core strength of our Constitution that the people have the final say. 

"We fully respect their decision."

Mr Martin said there is no single reason why these proposals were rejected "and, like all who supported them, we will reflect on this over time."

"After today, 13 different proposals have been rejected in referendums.

"While the constitutional change was rejected, it is clear that the need for continued action to support families and to respect principles of equality was not challenged. Action on this will remain an important part of our work as we complete our mandate," he added. 

Leo Varadkar admitted the Irish government “clearly got it wrong” as the final counts of the two Constitution referenda continued with defeat looking likely in each.

“I think Enda Kenny (former taoiseach) famously said once that the electorate often gives the government a wallop, this is two wallops.

“Well look clearly, we got it wrong.” The Taoiseach added: “It’s not the first time though government has lost a referendum.

“It’s actually the 12th and 13th time so we’ve seen periods of the past where referendums have been defeated.

“This is one of those occasions but we absolutely accept the result.”

EARLIER 

Counting is continuing in Cork in the referendums on proposed changes to the Constitution in Ireland.

Indications show a significant 'no' vote to both questions. 

Sinn Fén leader Mary Lou McDonald has said her party is “very much” in touch with the Irish public, despite tallies showing the two referenda will be defeated.

Her party advocated for a “yes-yes” vote in Ireland’s ballot on family and care.

“No, we’re very, very much in touch with people, and you’ll recall that I said from the get-go, that we were very much in favour of removing sexist language from the Constitution, very much in favour of an inclusive definition of families,” Ms McDonald said on Saturday.

“But we knew that the government did come up short in terms of the caring wording. They disregarded the citizens assembly, they didn’t consult with opposition or with other stakeholders. They didn’t collaborate, and they failed to convince.

“I know, talking to lots of people, that people were left with an unbalanced decision to make and I think it’s a great pity that the government went on this kind of solo run, and they’ve had their answer.

“I don’t think there has been a lack of clarity for people, I think people when they came out and voted were very clear how they were voting and why they were voting in a particular way.

“If there is one big takeaway message from this, it is that support for people with disabilities as full and equals citizens and support for carers is something that has to be taken seriously by government.

“I think it’ll fall to the next government to vindicate those rights," she said. 

Mary Lou McDonald also said Sinn Féin will “return to” considerations of the “sexist language” in Ireland’s Constitution if the party is in the next government.

“The propositions that have been put by government have failed, so there’s no question of re-running those,” she added.

“Since it was first written, republican women have railed against sexist language in respect of women in the Constitution, and it’s something that I would hope we will return to.

“The people have come out and they’ve spoken very, very definitively. Let me reiterate our commitment to vindicating the rights of people with disabilities, the rights of carers, the rights of families and of women.

“Let me just say, it is now my view that it will fall to the next government to fully vindicate those. What does that mean? It means policy platforms, it means legislation that provides for all of those rights.

“It’s about the right decisions in terms of resources and where they’re placed and it’s my view, for what it’s worth, that caring and carers are so central to the Irish life, the rights of people with disabilities are absolutely central, and I think they are worthy of constitutional protection, but that will fall to the next government.”

EARLIER

Counting is continuing in Cork in the referendums on proposed changes to the Constitution in Ireland.

Early indications show a significant 'no' vote to both questions. 

Transport minister Eamon Ryan has conceded that the Government has lost the twin referendums to change the Constitution in Ireland.

When it was put to the minister that the Government did not get the result that they wanted, he said: “No we didn’t. But you have to respect the voice of the people.

“We have to wait until the final count is done but if it is a ‘no-no’ vote, have to respect that.

“I don’t think you can respect the people’s vote by saying ‘what went wrong? The people didn’t vote the right way’.

“People are sovereign in this. They have to decide. It’s a complex issue, both were complex. I would have preferred a ‘yes-yes’. I don’t accept that our campaign did go wrong.”

He added: “It’s complex issues. There were a myriad of reasons to vote no.

“We will continue to make sure in Government that we will heed that advice from the people. It was never easy.

“It took a long time to come up with the wording because it’s not easy, it’s quite complicated when you try to change the Constitution in any way.

“We didn’t convince the public of the argument for a ‘yes-yes’ vote.

“I think the next government will have to come back to this and consider the campaign and what were the arguments that merited a no vote in both cases.”

EARLIER 

Counting is now underway in referendums on proposed changes the Constitution in Ireland.

The boxes were opened at 9am after the public went to the polls on Friday to vote on whether to change the wording of the Constitution relating to the areas of family and care.

Results for both will be announced separately later today. 

There was a low turnout reported throughout the day, with some areas understood to be less than 30% of registered voters.

There was a slight uplift at polling stations as people made their home on Friday evening, however it is thought that numbers remained lower compared to previous referenda.

The two questions will be counted separately, with both results expected to be declared at Dublin Castle by Saturday evening.

The family amendment will be counted and declared first.

Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina voted at their polling station at St Mary’s Hospital in Phoenix Park on Friday.

It is the first time Mr Higgins, 82, has been seen in public since he was discharged from hospital on Thursday.

He was admitted to St James’ Hospital in Dublin last Thursday evening after experiencing a “mild transient weakness”.

After a seven-night stay, he returned to his official residence, Aras an Uachtarain, on Thursday.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheal Martin and Sinn Fáin leader Mary Lou McDonald also voted in the referendums.

The family amendment proposes extending the meaning of family beyond one defined by marriage and to include those based on “durable” relationships.

The care amendment proposes deleting references to a woman’s roles and duties in the home, and replacing it with a new article that acknowledges family carers.

The Constitution is the fundamental legal document for the country and can only be changed with the approval of Irish citizens through a national vote.

The campaigns have led to national debates over the role of women in the home, what responsibility the State has for care and the meaning of family.

The Irish Government campaigned for a yes vote in both amendments. 

It says the changes will remove sexist language, recognise family care and extend protection to families not based on marriage.

The result of the referenda will be decided by majority.

Counting of the ballots happens at a constituency basis at various centres around the country.