Fitzgerald: Family Relationships Bill not linked to gay marriage referendum
The Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has criticised some of the debate around the Children and Family Relationships Bill.
The legislation will reform and update family law in Ireland to recognise the diverse forms of family life.
It will also allow gay couples to adopt, which has brought criticism from some groups.
Speaking at an information seminar on the bill, Minister Fitzgerald said it has nothing to do with the upcoming marriage equality referendum.
She said: "I think some of the debate has done a disservice to the wide range of the bill, in terms of assuming that it's about one aspect only and linking it to the referendum, that's not true."
"It's a very wide-ranging bill, that has implications for many diverse family types."
