Gay-rights advocates in Ireland have welcomed a government proposal to provide legal recognition for "civil partnerships," while pro-family groups have staked out their opposition to the legislation.The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) praised the government proposal as "a reform whose time has come."
Kieran Rose, spokesman for the group, noted that all the country's major political parties had "played a role in getting us to this point," and claimed "huge public support" for the proposal.
However, Rose observed that the proposal unveiled by the government earlier this week would "not provide for legal recognition of the many same-sex couples, particularly women, who are parenting children together."
He said added protection for same-sex couples was a matter of "critical importance" that should promptly be addressed.
The pro-family Iona Institute, on the other hand, called for legislation that would protect the legal and financial rights of all households without granting special privileges to homosexuals.
Such legislation, the group said, would "extend to both same-sex couples and adults in caring relationships that are not sexual in nature."
The Iona Institute added that Irish law should preserve the special status accorded to marriage.
"Let's bear in mind why this special status is worth preserving," the group said: "marriage is society’s way of seeking to ensure that every child is raised by a mother and a father in a committed relationship." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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