What did Mesopotamia have that the Irish Republic still does not have?
A liberal divorce law. Although divorce is possible in the Republic after a separation of four years, the law is considerably harsher than just about everywhere else on the planet.
However, a survey in the Irish Times suggests that there has been quite a thaw since the last referendum, with every age, gender, socio-economic and geographical group now in favour of a reform in the law. The figures now stand thus, "75 per cent of those polled said they would vote in favour of divorce if a referendum were held now, compared with just 16 per cent who said they would vote against and 9 per cent who had no opinion or didn't know how they would vote". Compare that with the '95 results, "In the referendum held in November 1995, 50.3 per cent of people voted Yes and 49.7 per cent voted No".
Given that the Hibernians are signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights, it is odd that there has not, as far as I am aware, been more petitioning. Article 8 - right to respect for private life - would seem to be a potential icebreaker....
However, a survey in the Irish Times suggests that there has been quite a thaw since the last referendum, with every age, gender, socio-economic and geographical group now in favour of a reform in the law. The figures now stand thus, "75 per cent of those polled said they would vote in favour of divorce if a referendum were held now, compared with just 16 per cent who said they would vote against and 9 per cent who had no opinion or didn't know how they would vote". Compare that with the '95 results, "In the referendum held in November 1995, 50.3 per cent of people voted Yes and 49.7 per cent voted No".
Given that the Hibernians are signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights, it is odd that there has not, as far as I am aware, been more petitioning. Article 8 - right to respect for private life - would seem to be a potential icebreaker....
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on Monday, February 05, 2007 at 2:48 pm.
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I'm not sure how respect for a private life would require a liberal regime for divorce. After all you're a private individual when you get married and your swear that it is forever. It would seem we'd be better off making marriage harder rather than divorce easier.
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