Not every 'durable relationship' will be a family if referendum is passed, insists Taoiseach

The upcoming referendum is seeking to amend the Constitution and expand the definition of the family beyond just marriage

Speaking in Dublin at the launch of the Fine Gael referendum campaigns, Leo Varadkar said that there is an impression that any people with a durable relationship will be classified as a family if the referendum passes. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

Not all durable relationships will be classified as a family if proposed changes to the Constitution are agreed in the upcoming referendum, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

The referendum is seeking to amend the Constitution and expand the definition of the family beyond just marriage. This will be done by allowing families to be founded on either marriage or other ‘durable relationships’.

At the launch of the Fine Gael referendum campaigns, Mr Varadkar said that there is an impression that any people with a durable relationship will be classified as a family if the referendum passes.

However, he said, that is not correct, saying that there are existing tests within the Constitution that set out additional requirements to be classified as a family.

“What I would want to make very clear though, is I think some people are giving the impression that every durable relationship therefore becomes a family,” said Mr Varadkar. "That's not the case.

“Lots of people have all sorts of durable relationships. Business relationships for example, might be going on for decades.

Nobody is going to be able to rock down to the courts and say that makes them a family.

"There are other tests that are there, set out in the Constitution already.” 

This included, Mr Varadkar said, that the family must be the “natural and primary fundamental unit group of society” and that it is required to be a moral institution.

The Taoiseach also said that the term ‘durable’ exists and is defined in the existing European legal system.

He added that when considering the wording of the referendum, other terms such as "committed" and "intimate" were considered by the Government.

“The intention here, the plan here is very, very clear — there are about a million people who currently live in families that are not based on marriage,” Mr Varadkar said, highlighting lone-parent families and cohabitating couples as families that would come under the proposed wording.

On the date of the referenda, March 8, Mr Varadkar said that it was picked as there were concerns that holding it on the same day as the local and European elections would result in some people receiving up to six ballot papers on the one day.

On polling day later this year, most people will receive three ballot papers: one for the local election, one for the European election, and one for a referendum on a unified patent court. However, voters in Limerick will be voting for a directly-elected mayor, while Dublin voters will also have a plebiscite on the matter.

“We just thought six ballot papers on one day was a bit too much and that this deserved, you know, to be held on a day in its own right,” said Mr Varadkar.

Asked if he was worried the turnout would be low, Mr Varadkar said that he did not know if it would be, adding that was why the party launched its campaign.