Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

The group is chaired by the chairperson of the Legal Aid Board and former Deputy, Ann Colley, and is composed of a high-powered group of people including representatives from the gay and lesbian community and my Department. These issues are being considered with a view to drawing a clear picture of the implications of any particular option.

I have not ruled out constitutional change but the Taoiseach and I are of the opinion that a constitutional amendment of, for example, the definition of the family to include unmarried people, regardless of their sexual orientation, would be extremely divisive and would probably not pass. There is no point in taking a constitutional route and making the best the enemy of the good.

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