Opening civil marriage to same-sex couples is “a matter of equality and human rights”, the State’s human rights watchdog has said.
Welcoming the referendum on same-sex marriage, which is due to take place in May, the Human Rights and Equality Commission said it was “an important step” towards full protection for the family life for all couples, irrespective of their gender.
In a policy statement published on Thursday, the commission said that, in Ireland, marriage was celebrated as a key part of an individual’s and a family’s participation in the social and cultural life of the State.
“By excluding couples from participation in a social and cultural institution on the basis of their sex, the commission considers that Irish law fails to provide full recognition and equality of status for same-sex couples in a way that would underpin a wider equality for people within Irish life,” it stated.
The statement also drew the Government’s attention to recent trends in European human rights law in the area.
It said the concept of a right to “family life” had been extended to include couples in same-sex relationships, reflecting the “rapid evolution” of social attitudes towards these relationships.
“In other countries, in extending access to civil marriage, the courts have recognised that equality encompasses not only the practical benefits and responsibilities of marriage, but the equal status and recognition of their relationship within their communities,” said chief commissioner Emily Logan.
The commission, created by the merger of the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission, was formally established as an independent body last November.
