Madam, – Given the Civil Partnership Bill’s wide-ranging ramifications for cohabiting couples, why aren’t we being given our say in a referendum? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I applaud your Editorial on the Civil Partnership Bill (April 7th). It accurately conveys the importance of this legislation to the composition of the family in Ireland.
I do not believe that legal privilege should automatically be extended to cohabiting couples. A dog licence is not automatically granted to anyone possessing such a pet. If a couple desires legal recognition, it is not unreasonable to ask that they publicly and legally register their permanent commitment to each other. Marriage is a valuable institution. It would be sad indeed if nonsense about expensive dresses and religious ceremonies drove couples away from exercising such a fundamental civil right.
We need to reaffirm the role of marriage in our increasingly secular society. Legislation which further debases marriage does not achieve this. – Yours, etc,