Gay marriage forum debate ‘not flawed’

The chairman of the Constitutional Convention has rejected claims that procedures during a debate on same sex marriage at the forum over the weekend were flawed.

Tom Arnold said he was happy with standards of presentations and the forum’s process after 79% of attendees voted in favour of same-sex marriage in Ireland.

Mr Arnold’s comments came after Independent senator Ronan Mullen alleged the convention had been a “flawed process”.

The senator and lawyer claimed the forum’s process was not something he believed was capable of measuring public opinion.

He argued that documents discussed with convention members did not cover all areas relating to same sex marriage. They had not include the impact on the Constitution of changing laws on marriage, adoption or assisted human reproduction, he said.

On one document given at the two-day forum, he said: “I felt that the information was inadequate and there was a tendency to lead us in particular ways.”

He added on RTÉ: “There was an element of peer pressure towards the end. Several of the citizen delegates told me that some of the politicians were leading very strong at the table.”

Mr Arnold rejected the claims, saying the issue of pressure being applied to ordinary citizens was never raised with him.

The convention is expected to submit its official report on gay marriage to the Government within weeks. The Government must respond within four months with an Oireachtas debate, and then on whether a referendum should be held.