Referendums

Taoiseach says government given ‘two wallops’ as both referendums lost

Recrimination within government escalates over scale of loss and poor campaign on family and carers amendments

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Dublin Castle admitting defeat in both referendums. Picture: Damien Storan/PA Wire

The coalition leaders have admitted defeat in the two referendums with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying they have been given two wallops by the electorate.

The Family referendum has been comprehensively defeated with 67.7% voting No and 32.3% voting Yes.

The overall Referendum Returning Officer Barry Ryan made the official declaration in Dublin Castle shortly before 7pm.

The margin between those in favour and those against is expected to be 32.3%, or 533,982 votes.

Turnout was ...