The 160 differences is no longer correct? Campaigning honesty in referendums.

Thirdfox

Something I just read in the Guardian today: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/21/irelands-gay-marriage-referendum-the-guardian-briefing

"However, when the legislation was passed, gay rights group Marriage Equality published a report detailing 160 statutory differences between the entitlements of couples in civil partnerships compared with married couples, ranging from taxation benefits, to immigration rights, to combining assets when applying for housing loans. Many of these discrepancies have been amended in the years since civil partnerships became legal, after efforts from campaigners." (my emphasis)

I've been following this debate with interest and have come across the 160 figure on the yes side quite often. Now I read on a newspaper that is more leftwing than most that the 160 number is incorrect.

Are the people who are referring to that figure doing so disingenuously? Or do they not know that the number is no longer relevant/accurate?

As a matter of interest I wonder what the actual correct number is now, and which laws in particular are affected. Has anyone updated the legislation excel sheet which I've read on the Marriageequality.ie website?

This isn't as bad as some of the outright lies the no side have come out with, but it seems like a pretty disingenuous tactic for the yes side to use also. Had I not read the guardian article I would have taken the 160 figure at face value. Of course the guardian only says many and not most, perhaps only 10-20 etc have been remedied? Without someone performing an actual review of the table we won't know.

Still, I would have preferred that if marriageequality.ie did not wish to update the table as statutory differences disappeared that they would at least acknowledge the figure is historic and no longer correct. As the yes campaign has rightly pointed out some disingenuous information being spread by "no" people, they should equally make sure they don't build their arguments on shaky foundations also. But maybe that is the nature of politics/campaigning.

Anyway, off to the polls we go.

Stoned Since 2011

Thirdfox wrote: »

Anyway, off to the polls we go.

indeed

ronivek

Does it really matter what the exact number is? The fact the 'No' side haven't trotted out any figures on it would suggest the number isn't significant.

Most people see the publication and it appears to be relatively trustworthy; they're not exactly going to go through them one by one and try to find the new Acts which may or may not 'fix' the issue.

I think the whole point of using those differences was to highlight that differences DO exist; regardless of how many, and irrespective of how many times people claim Civil Partnership is the same as marriage.

Certainly I don't believe using that document as evidence is in quite the same league as intentionally misrepresenting facts you know to be incorrect or at best highly misleading just to try and sway people's opinion or attract votes.

Anyway hopefully it will be academic after tomorrow; other than to existing civil partners who will have to decide if they remain as such or get married.

Guy:Incognito

I'll hazard a guess that there are still 1 or more differences. Thats more than enough to qualify as different.

Pass the vote and there will be zero differences. Problem solved.