AND IRELAND

Moves are afoot to provide civil unions for gay couples in this historically Catholic country. I’d favor full marriage rights myself, for all the usual reasons. Not least of which: divorce in Ireland is an extremely tough process. Meanwhile, here’s a good story on the Canadian decision. Canada’s parliament will have the last word early next year, with a free vote on the matter. David Frum argues that this is not democratic. A free vote in the national parliament? And the Supreme Court essentially deferring to an existing government decision? Undemocratic? Let’s just say it’s a lot more democratic than, say. Brown vs Board of Education.