Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will conclude. What I see in this Government proposal is actually an attack on disadvantaged communities more than on anybody else. I have no vested interest in promoting something for some kind of theoretical reason. I call on myself and everybody else to look at the evidence and to see whether there is a reason the State should have some respect for marriage between men and women. Is it just another option in terms of people who want to express their love publicly or does it have some kind of social benefit? That is the question I ask people to interrogate. Do not take my assertions. Do the research. Then, in light of that, can we have a discussion about whether a particular value should be placed on marriage in the Constitution as some kind of ideal or proposed basis for the foundation of families in general terms?

That is what is at issue here because this Government is decoupling family from marriage and decoupling marriage from couples. It can give no good reason except vague assertions about the past. There is a complete failure to give any specific injustice that this referendum change would remedy because we see in our laws and court decisions that people's situations get the respect they deserve. This Government is unable to give any reason for what it is doing outside of an ideological distaste for marriage. That is something it should have to confront in the debate that will lead up to this referendum day.