BOTH THE TÁNAISTE and Minister for Communications Alex White agree with Alan Shatters comments that children are being used as weapons by the No side in the same-sex marriage referendum.

The former Justice Minister made the comments in an interview with The Irish Times.

Speaking at the launch of the Labour Party’s social media campaign for a YES vote in the upcoming referendum, White said:

“Yes I think there is substance to that suggestion by Alan Shatter.

“There is a danger, and you see it in some posters, that the rights of children are drawn into this referendum in a misleading way and in a way that’s not helpful to the debate about the issue itself which is about marriage equality.”

Joan Burton said the issue is about civil marriage and ‘it’s not about anything else’.

Surrogacy has absolutely nothing to do with this particular referendum.

“As somebody who is adopted I find a particular poster about surrogacy really quite sad…it’s a little bit sad and demeaning and I don’t think it’s worthy of the debate.”

The ‘make-it-happen’ campaign encourages people to speak to their family and friends about voting Yes in the referendum.

Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

The Tánaiste and Alex White will be meeting with people over 70 this afternoon, to discuss the importance of older people voting YES.

Originally published 1.53pm

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