Fine Gael parliamentary party chairman Charlie Flanagan has welcomed the decision of Taoiseach Enda Kenny to consult backbenchers about the issue of same-sex marriage.
The Cabinet was yesterday due to consider a recommendation by the constitutional convention in favour of a referendum on the issue. However, the matter was deferred for a week to give Mr Kenny time to consult Fine Gael TDs and senators.
The Taoiseach also had a number of public engagements yesterday, which limited the time he could give to the Cabinet meeting.
Mr Flanagan said last night that he was very anxious that there should be open consultation with the parliamentary party.
“As leader of the Fine Gael group on the constitutional convention I voted in favour of changing the constitution to permit same-sex union, but notwithstanding that I am very anxious that there should be open consultation with the parliamentary party on the issue,” said Mr Flanagan.
Deadline
A formal meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party is not scheduled until after next Tuesday's Cabinet meeting but Mr Kenny intends to speak to as many of his backbenchers as possible about the issue before then. The four-month deadline for the Government to respond to the recommendation of the constitutional convention in favour of a referendum will run out next week so a decision has to be made at next Tuesday's Cabinet meeting.
It is expected that the Cabinet will endorse the recommendation of the convention but it will be a surprise if there is agreement to hold it next year as advocated by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.
A number of Fine Gael backbenchers have expressed reservations about proceeding to hold another referendum so soon after the Seanad referendum defeat while others are concerned about proceeding to deal with the issue of same-sex marriage after the trauma in the party over the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill which led to the expulsion of five TDs. “Fine Gael is essentially a conservative party . . . I sense a deep reluctance to tackle the issue of same-sex marriage at this stage,” said one TD.
