No campaign argument could damage family

The Children and Family Relationships Bill will be enacted whether or not the Irish people vote yes to same-sex marriage.

This piece of legislation will allow for adoption by same sex couples and guardianship. The Government has pledged to enact this legislation before the referendum in May which will seek to add the following clause to our constitution: “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.”

The No Campaign has sought to entangle both of these issues. This was clear on the The Claire Byrne Show . Therefore if the no campaign were to be successful we could have a situation whereby a child could be adopted by a same sex couple but that couple would be unable to marry. This would be counterproductive to the principle that the Iona Institute purports to promote : the protection of children and the family.