New proposals which would create de facto gay marriage could lead to marriage becoming meaningless, according to prominent columnist David Quinn.Mr Quinn, the director of pro marriage think tank, the Iona Institute, was responding to the Labour Party's Civil Union Bill, which was debated in the Dáil yesterday.
The proposed bill would fundamentally change the purpose of marriage, Mr Quinn said.
"Marriage as a social institution and the attaching benefits exists for children," he said. "Children are the reason that marriage recieves social support."
Marriage, he continued, "is the most pro-child institution there is".
The Government has announced plans to give recognition to gay civil unions.
However, Dáil debate about these proposals is not due until October of next year.
The new Bill, which would give full legal recognition to same sex unions thus creating a status relationship equivalent to marriage for same sex couples, sends a signal that marriage "is not primarily about children, but about adult relationships".
If this is recognised, there is no reason not to extend the rights of marriage to all adults in a loving relationship, including sisters and brothers, Mr Quinn went on.
"At that point, marriage as a social institution becomes meaningless," he said.
Passing such a law would mean that society would no longer acknowledge that "there is a family form, namely marriage, that is of most benefit to children," Mr Quinn continued.
In the long term, he said, this must harm children.
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