FF double standard on gay marriage

I WAS dismayed to hear that a group of Fianna Fáil TDs and senators is seeking to reverse a Government decision to allow gay and lesbian couples register their relationships with the State.

There are issues of equality, fairness and human rights involved here that should transcend the personal opinions and biases of individual legislators.

It is wrong in my view for the State to intervene or to continue to impose legislative restrictions on the legal rights of individuals in such matters as private morality or gender/sexual orientation.

It is also indicative of flawed double standards that these same FF members seemed to have had very little problem with the level of financial corruption involving many of their TDs, councillors, and ministers, or with the very public extramarital affair of their former leader.

Morality within Fianna Fáil seems to be only focused on a particular aspect of sexuality.

In 2003, all Fianna Fáil TDs and senators considered they were morally justified in approving the Government’s decision to support the Iraq war by allowing US troops to use Shannon airport.

To them, the deaths of more than one million Iraqi people in the meantime, and CIA torture, are not immoral, but official acknowledgement of gay relationships is.

Edward Horgan

Newtown

Castletroy

Co Limerick