Same-sex couples - Old order smothers discussion

The intolerance displayed towards Justice Minister Michael McDowell at the conference on the legal status of cohabiting and same sex couples organised by the Equality Authority and the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network was more pathetic than serious.

What it did illustrate, however, is that there are people who not alone resent societal change, but want to smother any discussion about it.

It is the ostrich syndrome, believing that a blind refusal to accept that things may have to change is a protection against it. It is not, and never has been.

For about 10 minutes the group, allegedly members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, shouted accusations at the minister, prevented him from speaking, and at one stage threw a copy of the Constitution at him.

What the minister was engaged in was encouraging the debate on the issue of the legal status of same-sex couples, and his audience included legal figures from the Netherlands, Spain, Canada and Britain.

It is a question which has to be addressed in a reasoned manner to reach the consensus the Government seeks. The hysterical tantrums of a group who seek to rowdily impose their own narrow viewpoint are undesirable.

They might have been more effective in conveying that in a more orthodox way.