Taoiseach rules out holding referendum on same-sex marriage

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday ruled out holding a referendum to change the Constitution and permit same-sex marriages.

Such a poll would be socially divisive and Irish voters would probably reject same-sex marriages, he said.

Instead, the Taoiseach said he wanted to address problems faced by same-sex couples in areas such as inheritance, pensions and insurance rights.

Speaking at a press briefing in New Delhi, India, where he is on a trade mission, Mr Ahern said he could not be sure of winning a referendum on same-sex marriages.

Asked if he thought voters would accept same-sex marriages, he said: "There have been no opinion polls on it and I don't think they would (accept it).

"At this stage, that can be socially divisive, particularly when proponents (from gay and lesbian associations) who are coming to me are not asking for that. What I would rather do is deal with the issues that they have asked for."

He said that he had met gay rights campaigners and they want matters like property transfers dealt with.

"Most of these issues are in the area of finance. They are not on the issues of anything else. The kinds of issues they want to address primarily are ones to do with inheritance, to do with pensions and ones pertaining to insurance rights.

"And I indicated last year, without creating any annoyances or difficulties for the churches, these are areas where they (the churches) also thought we should explore," Mr Ahern said.

The gay rights lobby had not asked the Taoiseach to put same-sex marriages or adoption issues on the political agenda, he insisted.

"I would rather do the things that I think I can usefully do. Perhaps on other days, people can do other things.

"But I think at the moment, we can usefully look at issues like inheritance, tax and transferability of properties," he said.

However, the Taoiseach did say that in the future, attitudes could change and the issue may be resolved.

"That does not rule out what will happen in future. We have seen in other countries how things have developed and how things have changed," he said.

There are an estimated 1,300 same-sex couples in Ireland as well as tens of thousands of co-habiting heterosexual couples to whom any tax, inheritance and property changes could apply.

The Taoiseach's comments were welcomed by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN).

But GLEN's director of policy change Eoin Collins said the Taoiseach's proposals did not go far enough.

"We want full equality for same-sex couples and we believe that can be achieved within the current Dáil," he said.

He said gay rights campaigners wanted same-sex civil marriages to enjoy the same rights, protections and privileges as marriages between men and women.