Republic of Ireland to vote on another ‘downgrade’ to marriage status

Ireland is set to vote on ditching the recognition given to marriage as the foundation of family and society in its Constitution.

The Irish Government’s proposals, which will be put to a referendum in March, seek to amend the wording to: “The State recognises the Family, whether founded on marriage or founded on other durable relationships, as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society”.

The Government also proposes to delete a separate statement that the “Family is founded” on the “institution of Marriage”.

Downgrade

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar claimed: “Our Constitution will continue its history protecting both the family and the institution of marriage. Repurposing the wording, however, acknowledges that families may also be founded on lasting relationships other than marriage.”

Ireland voted by referendum to redefine marriage to include same-sex ceremonies in May 2015. Homosexual marriage was backed by 1,201,607 voters while 734,300 said No, out of an electorate of more than 3 million.

Pro-family group the Iona Institute said the proposed wording “could be seen as a further downgrading of the importance of marriage to the State”.

‘Voting no’

In addition, the Government seeks to remove the Constitution’s statement that “by her life within the home, Woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved”.

University lecturer Colette Colfer took to X to set out her opposition to the change: “I would argue that women in the home do give a ‘support without which the common good cannot be achieved’ (article 41.2.1).

“I will be voting no to the proposed changes as the current constitution provides safeguards for women & does NOT prevent women from working outside the home”.

Avoidance

Earlier this week, The Christian Institute said The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment must make significant improvements to its draft specification for Senior Cycle SPHE.

The Institute highlighted that the proposals for the Irish curriculum failed to include any reference to marriage.

Institute Deputy Director Ciarán Kelly said: “Marriage is understood the world over to be the best context for bringing up children. The evidence consistently demonstrates that children do best when brought up by a mother and father who are married to one another.

“But you wouldn’t know it from this draft, which studiously avoids all mention of marriage.”