Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important we have this level of understanding and clarity. The referendum will be about one, and only one, issue and that issue is whether it is agreed by a majority of the people of the Republic of Ireland that individuals who are gay can celebrate a marriage. This is the only issue. We already have on the Statue Book civil partnership. Civil partnership in many ways resembles marriage but not in its entirety. Those who wish to be treated equally, who are entitled to be treated equally, and who are equal citizens in the country want when they are in an intimate loving relationship to have the same recognition granted to the relationship as is available to heterosexual couples. It is a very simple question, and it is a question which has been answered in a range of other countries listed earlier. It is my hope the answer to the question will be "Yes".

I want to emphasise, because Deputy Catherine Murphy raised the issue, the referendum will not be about children. We should not be led into a debate about children.

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