Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

330. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of plans to amend Article 41.3 of Bunreacht na hÉireann in order to recognise a wider range of families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27200/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Article 41.3.1° of the Constitution provides that “The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack.”

The Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality, which published its recommendations on 24 April 2021, recommended the amendment of Article 41 of the Constitution so that it would protect private and family life, with the protection afforded to the family not limited to the marital family.

The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” contains commitments to respond to each recommendation of the Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality and to act on the recommendations.

The Government will consider the recommendation of the Citizen’s Assembly regarding the provisions of Article 41 of the Constitution relating to the protection of the family with a view to bringing forward proposals in due course.