It’s 2009 and time for another survey from the Iona Institute. A new phone survey is reported in today’s Irish Times but I can’t find any questions on same sex relationships in Patsy McGarry’s report but I’m sure they are there or David Quinn will be inferring them throughout the day when he’s on the radio etc. loving the sinners and hating the sin!

Main non talking points…

• 92 per cent of the public support a child’s right to a mother and a father.
• 72 per cent believe parents should decide what is best for children instead of an outside agency, except in cases of abuse or neglect. (ie. no sex education or stay safe programmes or health education.)

• 61% agreed “in general it is better for children if their parents are marriedâ€?. (Apple pie is wonderful also!)

• Eighteen per cent disagreed and 21 per cent had no opinion.

Fine Gaelers were more supportive of marriage followed by FF, Labour, Sinn Fein and Green Supporters. (Resists urge to note that Greens are last on list and make comparisons to renaging on party policy…)

I wait for full publication on the Iona Institute website of the complete report… could be waiting a long time but let us see!