People who were once against civil partnership are now promoting it

The Children and Family Relationships Act will remain on the statute books whether or not Irish people vote yes to same-sex marriage on May 22. This piece of legislation allows for adoption by same-sex couples and provides for guardianship. The referendum 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 have sought to entangle these issues. This was clear on the The Claire Byrne Show this week when listening to Senator Ronán Mullen. The chairperson of the Adoption Authority, Geoffrey Shannon confirmed in an interview on that same programme that the adoption process will not alter, irrespective of the outcome of the referendum.

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 very principle that the no campaign purports to promote: The protection of children and the family.