Of course the same-sex marriage referendum is about children

Listening to politicians insist that the same-sex marriage referendum is only about the the right of two people who love each other to marry, and that it has nothing to do with children, presumes the electorate is ignorant.

Voters should acquaint themselves with the relevant constitutional article (Art.41). This provides context to the proposition that “marriage can take place between any two people without distinction as to sex.”

Everything that goes before this proposed addendum to article 41 is about family and the unique value of marriage, because it is on marriage that “ the family is founded.” If the referendum passes, that is a constitutional acknowledgement of the equality of heterosexual couples, who can found a family, and homosexual couples, who clearly cannot.

So how can this referendum not be about children? More importantly, how can this not be a violation of children’s rights, as set out by the EU and UN, which state that every child should be raised by their own father and mother, where possible?

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has some effrontery to foist on the Irish people what he rightly calls (in respect of the Family and Relationships Bill, which prepares the ground for the referendum) the most “radical piece of social legislation ever to be enacted by the State” and without any mandate from the people who elected him.

The Government is presiding over the erosion of democracy.

Margaret Hickey

Blarney

Co Cork