Irish Media Review in a news release dated June 4th reports, a demonstration was held outside Dáil Éireann (The Irish House of Parliament) on Wednesday, 2nd June 2010 to express opposition to the Civil Partnerships Bill, which is currently under discussion there.
The news release reports that,a series of demonstrations by a similar group took place on several of the previous Wednesdays, including the Wednesday (and also the Thursday) previous to that noted above. An Anglican group which, had similar objections to the bill also held demonstrations on several of these days.
A Dáil All-Party Committee meeting was held on Thursday, 27 May, and was attended as observers by two persons who had objected to the Bill. The discussion was in advance of the Report, and final stage, of the Bill. It is unknown when then this stage will be, but it is expected that the Bill will be signed into law before the Summer recess.
The report goes on to say,
The Dáil Committee spent much time on the definition of the word "Commitment" in the Bill. In particular, as to whether this should be defined so as to include sexual relations, the position of siblings, the period of such commitment, the consequences of "affairs", etc. It was contended that the cases before the Courts, with the object of establishing the exact meaning of the word "commitment", would be never-ending.
There was no mention of the effects on children.
Children are greatly affected by this degradation of marriage by the State. (Largely as a result of a similar degradation in the case of the unspoken effect of Divorce on children, 1 in 3 children are now born in Ireland without the commitment of a parent to their welfare).
The silencing of the Catholic Church will be to the further detriment of children. Assurance was given by Minister Ahern on the effects on the Church. (In Britain, however, the Church has been obliged to close their adoption agencies).[…]
The Bishops Conference of the Irish Catholic Church has issued a Statement entitled "Why Marriage Matters". Amongst the points they make, is that they are greatly concerned about the Bill, and that they regard the protection of marriage to be a matter of justice. This Statement should be, but is not, available at all churches. Concerned parents should ensure that the Bishop’s statement is properly circulated.
Same-sex unions are being promoted under the guise of regulating opposite sex partnership. Hence the title "Civil Partnership". The Bill seems to be price of support of Green Party. Divorce was the price of support of the Labour Party.
Other defects not clear to the public are:
1. Health, eg, in connection with Aids/HIV, blood donations, etc.
2. Ambiguous attitude to abortion.
3. The effect on the Church.
4. Freedom of speech.
5. The contradictory position of the media in promoting homosexual acts, and, at the same time, opposing paedophilia.
6. An enormous financial crisis is engulfing the country, involving taxes and other dis-benefits which must be borne, in part, by children living today.
7. Many thousands of couples are having huge difficulty in meeting mortgage payments.
8. The Euro is under strain and devaluation appears to be around the corner, affecting everyone.
Yet the political parties find time, and money, to discuss the alleged grievances of a minute proportion of the population. This is truly fiddling while Rome burns.
The passing of this legislation is a very serious issue and one that will inevitably have far reaching consequences. It should be put to the people of Ireland in referendum.
Unfortunately the government have no plans to hold a referendum on the shaky ground that neither, the word "marriage" nor the word "children" are mentioned in the bill, although it is understood that in recent days at least one TD (member of parliament) has called for a referendum.
Despite the commitments made to Ireland in the lead up to the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty that the RIGHT TO LIFE, FAMILY AND EDUCATION would not be under any threat from Europe, EU Commissioner Spidla has sent a letter of "reasoned opinion" to several EU countries, ie, those that have or are passing legislation similar ¬¬to this Bill. The intention is to bring those countries before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg to ensure full equivalence to marriage
