Healy Eames criticised for same-sex marriage claims

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames was embroiled in controversy after claiming that extending civil marriage rights to same-sex couple could lead to the banning of Mother’s Day.

The former Fine Gaeler told followers on Twitter that legalising same-sex marriage had seen the occasion, along with Father’s Day, gotten rid of in some American states.

“Happy Mothers’ day all! Hope we can continue to celebrate it after #SSM passed. In some US states Mothers & Father’s Day banned #pcgonemad,” she tweeted.

Happy Mothers' day all! Hope we can continue to celebrate it after #SSM passed. In some US states Mothers & Father's Day banned #pcgonemad

— Dr. Fidelma Healy Eames (@fidelma4Europe) March 15, 2015

The message drew widespread ridicule on the social media site as users pointed out that no US state had banned the days, but rather that a handful of schools in New York and Canada had decided to mark a day dedicated to the celebration of families instead.

The Gay And Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) expressed surprise at the comments, but insisted all parents would want equal rights for their children.

“On Mother’s Day especially we are reminded that our mothers love us all equally everyday and want all their children to have the same aspirations in life,” said a Glen spokesperson.

Ms Healy Eames, who was expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party for voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, has said she will not decide how to vote in the May 22 referendum on marriage equality until the Child and Family Relationships Bill has passed into law.

The Galway senator, who, despite yesterday’s Twitter gaffe, insists the referendum is about more than marriage rights and could have unforeseen consequences, wants to attach an amendment to the Bill, which would let parents who give up a child for adoption have a say in whether it goes to live with a heterosexual, or same sex, couple.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has insisted the adoption legislation has nothing to do with the marriage equality question, but is intended to modernise existing laws which allow an individual who happens to be gay or lesbian to adopt a child, but prevents a heterosexual couple from doing so if they are not married.

The referendum question states: “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinctions to their sex.”

The Irish language wording of the question has had to be amended as the original version could, potentially, have outlawed marriage between differently sexed couples.

Opinion polls show that around 70% of voters are in favour of marriage equality.