This article is from page 2 of the 2012-11-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
LESS than a third of Clare’s voters went to the polls to vote on the Children Referendum on Saturday last, the lowest turn out in 11 years.
Despite the turnout being lower than the national average, the number in favour of changing the constitution was slightly higher, with 61.7 per cent voting yes.
As many as 79,905 Clare people were entitled to vote, 197 less than the last referendum. Just 25,808 people from the Banner chose to exercise their democratic right however.
As many as 15,868 people voted for the amendment, with 9,846 voting against. There were 94 invalid votes.
The county has a history of not going to the polls on questions that would affect the constitution in recent decades, but this weekend’s turnout was surpassed only by the weak showing during the first Nice Referendum, the abolition of the death penalty and the criminal courts referendum.
In June 2001 just 30.83 per cent of the people of Clare voted on those three referendums.
When 49.8 per cent of voters in the county turned out for the Stability Referendum at the end of May voter apathy and lack of information was criticised for what was then the lowest turn out in the county in almost a decade.
Six months later it would appear that apathy and lack of engagement has grown to the point where 17.8 per cent more of the county’s population decided not to vote.
The drop in voter turnout is significant when compared to June 1999 when 60.05 per cent of the Clare electorate turned out to vote for “Recognition for Local Government.”
In March 2002 just 39.29 per cent of the Clare electorate turned out to vote on the Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy, with 47.05 per cent voting on Nice 2 that October.
The largest turnout for a referen- dum in recent years in Clare was in June 2004, when 64.6 per cent voted on the Citizenship.
From then until the Stability Referendum the turnout remained over 50 per cent in the Banner county, with 52.48 per cent voting on Lisbon 1 in June 2008, 56.9 per cent voting on the second Lisbon referendum in October 2009, while 56.12 per cent voted on the House of the Oireachtais Inquiries and 57.95 per cent on Judges Remuneration during the Presidential election in October 2011.
While the turnout on Saturday was disappointing for the Government, it still considered it “a historic day for children”.
Speaking at the count centre at the Court House in Ennis after returning officer Pat Wallace declared the Clare result of the Children Referendum, Deputy Pat Breen (FG) said, “Today, it is a truly historic day for our children. This referendum was one of the most important ever put before the people, and while, I am disappointed with the low turnout, the overwhelming number of voters in Clare who did come out and vote, supported the referendum.
“The passage of the referendum is another major step in ensuring our legislative structure supports and protects our children. It ensures a more child-centred approach is taken, so that the best interests of the child are taken into account when decisions are being made about their welfare.”