The Social Democrats today called for a Yes vote in Friday’s Divorce referendum to ensure a more humane and compassionate divorce system in Ireland.

“A Yes vote in this Friday’s referendum will be an important step towards a more humane and compassionate system that recognises that for some couples divorce is the best way forward.”

The Social Democrats today called for a Yes vote in Friday’s Divorce referendum to ensure a more humane and compassionate divorce system in Ireland.

The party’s co-leaders Roisin Shortall TD and Catherine Murphy TD said:

“The Social Democrats strongly believe that our Constitution is not the appropriate place for complex detail relating to interpersonal relations and family life. That’s why we support removing the wait time for divorce from the Constitution and allowing the Oireachtas to legislate in this area.

“A Yes vote in this Friday’s referendum will be an important step towards a more humane and compassionate system that recognises that for some couples divorce is the best way forward.  This referendum will help to minimise unnecessary conflict and stress for people

Tracey Carey, the party’s local election candidate for Swords north Dublin, added:

“After an amicable break up nine years ago, I am currently going through a legal divorce. I know from my own experience and that of separated friends that nobody walks away from a marriage lightly, and that forcing people to revisit a marriage breakdown after five years only opens up old wounds.

“For people who have moved on from a broken marriage and may even be in a new relationship with children from that relationship, the legal and emotional complications can be just enormous.”

ENDS

20th May 2019

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