Marriage Equality Referendum

Information Campaign

Information Campaign for DCUSU

2 Referendum 2015

Under the DCUSU Constitution a member may petition the Returning Officer to hold a referendum on an area of Students’ Union policy.

The current position of the Students’ Union is to support the

campaign for a yes vote in the State referendum on Marriage

Equality. This position was endorsed by the Class Representative

Council.

The Returning Officer has received a petition seeking the

endorsement of this position from the membership.

A referendum will therefore be held on March 9 to March 11

inclusive.

The question on the ballot paper will be as follows:

Do you want the DCU Students’ Union to support and campaign for Marriage Equality for same-sex couples?

IntroductionTO REFERENDUM

3 Referendum 2015

If the membership votes yes?

If the membership votes yes the Students’ Union will be required to

support the campaign for marriage equality in the State referendum

to be held on May 22.

If the membership votes no?

If the membership votes no the Students’ Union will no longer take

an active role in the campaign for marriage equality during the State

referendum to be held on May 22.

.

What are theIMPLICATIONS OF MY VOTE?

4 Referendum 2015

Why are students’ unions involved in this referendum?Students’ Unions have been involved in the gay and

lesbian rights campaign for over forty years. The gay rights

movement in Ireland began with students in Trinity College

Dublin and has been supported by individual students’

unions and the national students’ union, the Union of

Students in Ireland, ever since.

If citizens vote yes, what changes?The State referendum in May 22 is about civil marriage, not

the religious institution of marriage. These are separate institutions.

The institution of marriage conducted by a religious

organisation must be conducted by a State registered

solemniser - if not a separate civil ceremony must occur in

order for the State to recognise the union. A priest, rabbi,

imam or reverend is often a state registered solemniser.

If the citizens of Ireland vote yes the Constitution of Ireland,

Explanatory notes

Bunreacht na hÉireann, will be amended. The proposed

new wording to be inserted into the Irish Constitution under

Article 41 is:

Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.

Article 41 of the Constitition deals with the family. The

existing text of Article 41 will all remain as it currently

stands; the provision will be added as a new section

numbered Article 41.4.

This wording is extremely precise and clear. It is also

self-executing.This means that once Uachtarán na

hÉireann (the Irish President) signs the amendment into

the Constitution same-sex marriage becomes law. There is

no question that more than two people may marry as the

amendment states ‘two persons’.

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There has been a lot of talk about childrenThose on the no side believe they are acting in the best

interests of children by calling for a no vote. They argue that

children fair better in a family with a mother and father.

They also argue that children that are in families parented

by same-sex couples are more likely to be bullied in school.

Same-sex parented families already exist in Ireland. Gay

and lesbian couples have been allowed to adopt children as

individuals for a number of years. A yes or no vote will not

impact on this as adoption is governed by legislation.

Don’t gay and lesbian couples have access to civil partnership?Yes. Until recently there were significant differences

between civil partnership and marriage. However many of

these have now been reconciled. The major legal difference

between both is the constitutional protection afforded to civil

marriage. Civil partnership is governed by and created by

legislation. It is possible for any government in the future

to repeal the legislation and end access to civil

partnerships. Only a referendum could repeal civil marriage.

Whilst highly unlikely to happen, yes voters argue that this

uncertainty is discriminatory and not a secure environment

to raise children.

But gay and lesbians cannot procreate as a couples, isn’t marriage about procreation?Nobody disputes that two women or two men cannot

procreate biologically. It is up to the voter to decide whether

the traditional concept of marriage should remain or should

the concept of marriage reflect new forms or relationships?

The vote that the membership of the students’ union will

take is the stance that the students’ union will take. If you

feel that the Students’ Union should campaign then you

may wish to vote yes. If you believe that status-quo should

remain in relation to the Irish Constitition, or you believe that

the Students’ Union should play no role in the referendum

then you may wish to vote no.

Explanatory notes

Issued By:Steve ConlonReturning OfficerDublin City University Students’ Union

Marriage Equality Referendum