YES: Deputy Michael Creed
OVER 1,400 same sex couples have passed through the doors of our nation’s registry offices since civil partnership came into effect in 2011. For the other 4.592 million of us that share this Republic, life has continued as normal and in most cases oblivious of those who had their day out at the civil registrar’s office.
Despite all the debate and much noise – Friday’s referendum changes very little. The process for same sex couples to access a civil marriage, as opposed to a civil partnership will be identical.
The fact that the word ‘marriage’, as opposed to ‘partnership’, will appear on top of the certificate the registrar dispenses at the end of proceedings speaks only for how the State as an administration views the union.
If this subtle difference helps those who feel unequal or insecure by this omission – then I have no reason to deny that change.
Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews and all others will continue to avail of marriage in their respective Churches as they have done for millennia; untouched and unaffected by how the State does its paperwork or administers its laws.
My job as a TD is to try and make life better for as many people as I can. The ultimate test of my decision to vote Yes is based on that responsibility.
If I can improve the well-being of others with a simple tick of a box without adversely impacting on others then I’m more than happy to do just that.