In a significant setback for the Irish government, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has conceded defeat in the vote over two constitutional amendments aimed at broadening the definition of family and removing language about a woman's role at home. The vote tallies on Saturday revealed that both referendums had failed, dealing a blow to Varadkar's efforts to enshrine gender equality in the constitution.

The amendments, scheduled to coincide with International Women's Day on Friday, sought to remove "very old-fashioned language" and recognize the realities of modern family life in Ireland. However, opponents argued that the wording of the changes was poorly thought out, with some voters expressing concerns about unintended consequences.

In acknowledging the defeat, Varadkar stated that it was evident the amendments were "defeated comprehensively on a respectable turnout." He also admitted that his government had failed to convince the majority of people to vote 'yes' on the proposed changes.

One of the amendments aimed to alter a part of the constitution that protects the family as the primary unit of society. It proposed replacing the reference to marriage as the basis on which the family is founded with a clause stating that families can be founded on marriage or other durable relationships. The second proposed amendment sought to remove the notion that a woman's place in the home offers a common good that cannot be provided by the state. It aimed to replace it with a clause emphasizing the state's commitment to support care provided by family members to one another.

The referendum campaign, while less charged than previous debates on issues like abortion and gay marriage, saw support from Ireland's main political parties, including coalition partners Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, along with opposition party Sinn Fein. However, Aontú, a traditionalist group that split from Sinn Fein over abortion, opposed the amendments and called for 'no' votes.

Critics of the proposed changes raised concerns about the vagueness of the government's wording. Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín argued that the lack of clarity regarding the meaning of a durable relationship would lead to legal disputes. Meanwhile, disability rights campaigners expressed worry that the emphasis on care could perpetuate harmful stereotypes and treat disabled individuals as burdens rather than individuals with rights that should be guaranteed by the state.

While opinion polls suggested support for the 'yes' side on both amendments, many voters remained undecided as the polling day neared. Some cited confusion and a lack of time to thoroughly understand the proposed changes as reasons for voting 'no.'

The defeat in this referendum marks a setback for Ireland's ongoing evolution from a conservative, predominantly Roman Catholic country to a socially liberal and diverse society. Notably, Ireland has seen significant changes to its constitution in recent years, including legalizing divorce in 1995, approving same-sex marriage in 2015, and repealing a ban on abortions in 2018.

The outcome of this vote highlights the continuing challenges faced by the Irish government in pursuing constitutional amendments aimed at further progressing gender equality and modernizing societal norms.