Press release from The Iona Institute

The call by the IDA for a Yes vote in the coming marriage referendum has been described as “completely unacceptable” by David Quinn of The Iona Institute.

The head of the IDA has said a Yes vote would be “good for business”.

Responding, David Quinn said: “By intervening in the referendum in this way, the IDA is stepping far outside its proper remit. It is simply risible for it to pretend that its brief to improve Ireland’s economic prospects gives it permission to do this. On this basis, why not say what Government we should vote for next time? Who we have in Government is much more relevant for the economy and for our multi-nationals than our definition of marriage”.

He continued: “Many major economies do not have same-sex marriage and there is no evidence that this affects them in any way.

“The intervention by the IDA in this debate is simply one more example of a major institution of ‘Official Ireland’ breaking its normal stance of neutrality in these matters to strong-arm Irish people into voting No. If we vote No it will not affect the Irish economy in any way, shape or form.”

ENDS