Civil union of same-sex couples in the State should be supported in light of the recent development in the North which granted them equal rights, the National Women's Council of Ireland said yesterday.
The group was making a submission to the Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution which is reviewing family rights.
Joanna McMinn, director of policy, said the women's council was basing its decision to support civil unions in light of recent developments in the North whereby the Civil Partnership Act 2004 would grant equal rights, including adoption to same-sex couples.
"Under the Belfast Agreement, the government has already made a commitment to guaranteeing equivalence of rights protection in both part of the islands and would presumably implement legislation to respond accordingly to the UK Civil Partnership Act," she said.
The issue of adoption was a priority because many council members affected by proposed changes would have children.
She said families only acquired constitutional protection by virtue of being married. The women's council supported the concept that the Constitution should name and provide protection to all types of family units.
"The position of the NWCI is that as long as marriage remains the determinant for State protection through the Constitution, then this has to be made available to all people resident in the State including same-sex couples," Ms McMinn said.
The Council for the Status of the Family directly opposed this view. Chairman Louis Power said: "We believe legal recognition of homosexual unions would obscure certain basic values and cause devaluation of the institution of marriage."
The Constitution should not be changed and the model of family resulting from the marriage of a man and woman should receive the backing of the State, he said. No constitutional recognition should be accorded to other forms of family.