Press release from The Iona Institute
Government must restore the funding immediately
The decision by the State’s child and family agency to bring a complete end to State funding of Accord’s marriage preparation courses is “appalling and indefensible”, The Iona Institute has said today.
The funding amounted to almost €400,000 annually.
Commenting on the decision, The Iona Institute says: “This decision certainly adds to fears already expressed by the Catholic bishops over what will happen to marriage counselling organisations that believe marriage can only be the union of a man and a woman.
“It is very telling that this has happened only weeks after the Government refused to confirm to The Irish Catholic newspaper that it would not guarantee continued funding of Accord should the marriage referendum be carried.”
The Iona statement continues: “Now we see funding of marriage preparation courses axed even before the referendum takes place. Can the complete ending of State funding of Accord be far behind?
“Tusla will say this has been forced on it by Minister James Reilly’s decision to cut its budget. However, to simply end funding of Accord’s marriage preparation courses completely is beyond belief.
“It also calls into question the Government’s commitment to marriage. How can the Government claim to be pro-marriage and at the same time do this to the organisation that provides the vast bulk of marriage preparation courses in this country?”
The statement concludes: “The Iona Institute calls on the Government to restore this funding forthwith. We call on the opposition parties to demand that funding be restored. We make the same call to the Yes side generally. We ask that the Government guarantee that funding to Accord will continue, and that their ethos will be fully respected should the referendum be carried.”