'We've destroyed so many lives, I don't want discrimination'

A referendum on gay marriage is expected to be given the green light by the constitutional think tank this weekend.

And leading Fine Gael figures, including a cabinet minister, are weighing in behind the proposal.

The Constitutional Convention will debate if same-sex marriage should be voted on in a referendum, but the advice being provided to it is being questioned by a member.

Independent senator Ronan Mullen says the explanatory documents circulated to members fail to address all the relevant issues.

Despite Taoiseach Enda Kenny sitting on the fence, the bulk of the Fine Gael delegates on the convention appear to be backing the proposal.

Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald and party chairman Charlie Flanagan told the Irish Independent they are strongly in favour of gay marriage.

All Labour Party, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein members and a number of Independent delegates are also behind the proposal. Although two-thirds of the delegates are members of the public, the politicians tend to dominate the debate.

Ms Fitzgerald became the first Fine Gael minister to openly support gay marriage.

She said: "I would certainly favour putting it to the people. I think it's a great compliment to marriage that gay couples would want to be married. I see it as stabilising rather than threatening.

"I also think there's been such dreadful discrimination in this country and we've destroyed so many lives and I don't want to see discrimination continue."

Mr Kenny has declined to say where he stands on gay marriage, insisting it is up to the convention to recommend the holding of a referendum.

His party colleagues Mary Mitchell-O'Connor, Jerry Buttimer and Derek Keating will also be supporting a referendum. James Bannon, Michelle Mulherin and Catherine Noone, all regarded as conservative, are entering the debate "with an open mind".

None of the Fine Gael delegates is openly opposed to a referendum. Labour senator Ivana Bacik said her party's policy was well established and their delegates will vote for a referendum.

Sinn Fein vice president Mary-Lou McDonald said her party had a long-standing position in favour of marriage equality and all its delegates would also be voting for a referendum.

Fianna Fail says its policy on marriage equality is clear, and its four delegates – Sean O Fearghail, Seamus Kirk, Averil Power and Mark Daly – will be supporting the proposal.

A spokesman said: "As the Republican Party, we support marriage equality. All our representatives on the Constitutional Convention are aware of this and will be articulating the party policy on Saturday."

Mr Mullen has written to the convention expressing concerns about some of the expert documents that were commissioned.

In relation to a paper on the impact on children of gay marriage, he says he is surprised by the lack of detail.

"It would have been better for our expert to give us a window into the competing claims within the world of academia and to allow a glimpse of how they critique each other," he said.

"The members of the convention must be left to judge the competing claims for themselves, rather like a jury."

With regard to the legal papers, Mr Mullen said they were "rather short".

"Given the limited time available, we depend on neutral experts to draw our attention to inevitable issues for consideration," he said. "Not all of these have been flagged."

Comment: David Quinn Page 25

Irish Independent