Marriage defined as a man and a woman

Senator Ivana Bacik, (Irish Examiner, February 28) like many others supporting the same-sex marriage referendum, says the proposed re-definition of marriage is just one of a series of changes over the centuries.

She instances the removal of prohibitions against persons of different races or religions marrying each other, as if it was a clenching argument.

However, she, as a barrister, should know that this change was a legislative one that reversed previous legislation, not a re-defining of marriage in any way.

Before there was any legislation either allowing or disallowing persons of different ethnicities to marry, there was marriage as it has been since it was first defined — the union of a man and woman who, uniquely among relationships, have the gift of creating new life.

Margaret Hickey

Blarney

Co Cork