Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On Article 41.3, the specific aspect I want to focus on is the recommendation on the family. Under Article 41.3 at the moment, the definition of "the Family" really only entails the marital family.

That has a very real impact. We have spoken about lone parents where 25% of all the families in Ireland are single-parent households. That is 25% of all our families who are not recognised as families by the Constitution. We have also heard very detailed testimony from a number of witnesses about the impact that has personally with identity and also in policy areas, including social protection policy. We heard of one very interesting court case this weekend that involved a widower whose partner of more than 20 years had died. They had three children in their teens. The judge described them as a loving family in the sense of which family is generally understood in our society but the man was judged not be entitled to the widower's contributory pension because the purpose of that widower's contributory pension was defined by the judge as supporting and promoting the marriage contract. There are couples, therefore, of 20 years living together and their families are not considered to be a priority in the same way that marriage is. Marriage is considered to be a greater priority than them. It is similar for lone parent families. These policies have real impacts. We talk about consequences and unintended consequences. There are consequences now from how our Constitution is framed. Will the Taoiseach assure us that in his intention to hold a referendum, the Taoiseach is also committed to those provisions in Article 41.3 around recognising all families and including, of course, the marital family?