Four years ago, Genevieve Kennedy from Dublin, and her partner of seven years, Angela Ruotolo from Italy, decided to have a child. They opted for self-insemination, using the sperm of a mutual gay friend, because they wanted their child to have a father figure as well as two mothers.

"Some couples might regard a third party as an intrusion, but for us, having a father figure was really important, " said Kennedy, who is also the director of Alternative Parents Ireland. "That was where my friend Jonathan came in. He was the perfect person. His life ambition was to become a father and because he's gay, he didn't think he would get the chance."

In November 2005, Fionn Piers was born. He has three parents, but only one legal mother. If Kennedy was to fall ill or die, Ruotolo would have no legal right to look after Fionn. "As an Irish gay parent wishing to bring my child up in a protected family environment, I have less rights than those of a single mother, " said Kennedy. "We are unprotected and unrecognised as a family unit."

It is this aspect of today's poll . . .

denying equal adoption rights to same-sex couples . . . which most angers the 36-year-old mother. "So now there is an Irish mentality that same-sex couples should have the same legal and financial rights as married couples, but everything changes when children are brought into it, " she said.

"It comes down to one simple thing.

People think 'it's not natural'."

Kennedy rejected the suggestion that the traditional nuclear family would always be the best environment in which to raise children. "There is no such thing anymore as a traditional family, if it ever even existed, " she said. "People remain blind to how the 'traditional Irish family' destroyed so many people's lives. The very definition of family must be changed in the constitution or there will be a lot of trouble down the line for governments of the future. The Irish government must reconsider its stance and stop fudging the issue, because hundreds of children are being denied their rights. I believe my child will have recourse for action in the future, but I am optimistic that it will not have to come to that and that things will change."