The marriage of a man and a woman has a special position in Irish society and in the Irish Constitution. It is the 
only form of human relationship that has the status of a social institution. This special status is now deemed by some people to be inherently discriminatory in that is ‘discriminates’ against all other types of families.
This short paper [1] will briefly set out the argument in favour of giving traditional marriage continued special status. It will set out the reasons why it deserves the standing of a social institution (chiefly because of its uniquely pro-child characteristics) and it will explain why this special treatment is not discrimination and why the claim that it is, is a misapplication of the principle of equal treatment.