The Constitutional Convention is set to consider the issue of same-sex marriage this weekend. 
The Convention’s 100 members, comprised of 33 politicians, 66 ordinary citizens, plus Chairman, Tom Arnold, will hear from opponents and supporters of same-sex marriage.
They will then discuss the issue and on Sunday vote as to whether they feel it should be put to a referendum.
The Iona Institute is taking part in a panel discussion tomorrow afternoon. The Institute’s submission to the Convention can be read here [1].
The recommendation of the Constitutional Convention will then go to Government who will have to respond within four months by way of a debate in the Oireachtas.
If the Government agrees with a recommendation to amend the constitution, it must include a timeframe for a referendum on the issue.
Although the Constitution does not make reference to marriage specifically between a man and a woman, Irish courts have consistently interpreted the word “marriage” in the Constitution as applying only to the legal union of a man and a woman.
Three groups on each side of the debate have been invited to make presentations to the convention: the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Evangelical Alliance Ireland and the Order of the Knights of St Columbanus will argue for the status quo, while the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Marriage Equality will support the proposal.
The chairman of the Convention, Mr Tom Arnold responding to suggestions that two days was insufficient time to consider complex issues said it was “arguable that it’s not”.
He said: “At the same time, I think if you have a weekend that is properly structured, well organised, well run, you can get to a point of conclusion in one weekend. We don’t see the convention as being the end of the debate on any of these issues.”