Contradictions surround marriage referendum

A number of questions have not been not clarified on the Referendum Commission’s website: The Constitution does not say that marriage has to be between a man and a woman; that is how the law defines it.

The Government can change marriage legislation to facilitate same-sex marriage. Yet, the Commission does not give reasons why we are having a marriage referendum.

The Government calls it the ‘marriage equality referendum’, the Referendum Commission calls it the ‘marriage referendum’.

The Government and the Commission should use the same title. This is a serious issue and there is no room for ambiguity.

Two sections of Article 41, (The Family), which precede the “new proposed wording”, deal with the value of “the woman in the home” and the stipulation that a mother should not be forced into the workforce for economic reasons.

These two sections would have to be taken out of the Constitution in the event of a marriage equality referendum.

They become irrelevant or, at best, contradict the main thrust of the Government’s take on this new bill as a marriage equality referendum.

Article 46 of the Constitution deals with how amendments are made to Constitution by referendum.

It says that amendments can be passed by a majority of votes. It also adds that proposals to amend the Constitution must be passed by 33.3% of the electoral register.

In the case of the Marriage Referendum, it is not clear if this is to be carried by the former or latter.

Nuala Nolan

Bowling Green

Galway