The Opposition yesterday appealed for consensus on the Civil Unions Bill in that the law should make a clear distinction between the definitions of civil union and marriage.

Also, the Bill should not include references to adoption by people of the same sex but should be specifically about civil unions alone, former justice minister Chris Said told Parliament last night as he unveiled the Opposition’s proposed amendments to the Bill.

He said consensus should be sought at committee stage, just as had been done with the Divorce Bill.

The Opposition is also proposing that a civil union should have the same effects and consequences, where applicable, as a civil marriage.

A civil union, whether it takes place in Malta or abroad, has to be properly registered in order to be valid at law. Minors cannot enter into a civil union.

Furthermore, the reference to clergy needs to be removed as a civil union should not include any religious rites.

Neither should there be any reference to annulment since this is only applicable to marriage, the Opposition is proposing.

Dr Said assured the public that the amendments would in no way impinge on anyone’s civil rights.

Civil union and marriage were not superior to the other, and each had its own dignity, but there should be agreement that they are not the same, as both parties had agreed on this before the election.

The Opposition, he said, would be submitting further proposals on the issue of same-sex adoptions and he was sure that government would be in agreement, as both sides had the interests of children at heart.

He argued that any changes in adoption needed to be discussed within the context of the Adoption Law, because it did not just concern the couple but more importantly the children.

Dr Said underlined the need to proceed slowly and carry out relevant studies on the possible effects on children before embarking on such a huge social change.

“If we carry out Environmental Impact Assessments before embarking on major projects, shouldn’t we also carry out research on what social impact such a change in adoption laws can have on children?” he asked.

He urged the House Family Affairs Committee to carry out a thorough analysis of what had happened in other countries, where there were conflicting studies on this issue, while carrying out its own study within the context of Malta. Dr Said was careful to emphasis that this was not an attempt to cast a negative light on the ability of same-sex partners to raise children; it was simply an appeal to consider whether one needed to change one’s way of thinking that the most natural environment to raise children should be between a man and a woman.

The Opposition, he concluded, was being positive and trusted that the government would take heed.