Wording of referendum

Sir, – Writing to The Irish Times (Letters, August 24th), various NGOs wonder aloud where the wording for a forthcoming referendum on Article 41 of the Constitution is. It is widely accepted that the wording of Article 41.2 of the Constitution is sexist and outmoded.

However, it may be that coming up with a replacement wording that will satisfy all societal stakeholders, while not leaving future legal hostages to fortune, is just a little bit more difficult than writing a letter to The Irish Times.

After all, if the challenge is as straightforward as these NGOs believe, there has been nothing to prevent these august bodies proposing a draft wording themselves for public consideration. And yet they haven’t done so.

Perhaps, the best and simplest course of action is to run a referendum to offer citizens the chance to delete Article 41.2 in parallel with the upcoming local and European elections in June 2024 and move on. – Yours, etc,