In Ireland we have a Constitution and no article in it can be changed by legislation, but only through agreement by the majority of the citizens who vote in a referendum.

"Marriage" was included in the constitution and therefore had constitutional protection, but "civil partnership" was enacted through legislation and that clearly means that the two are NOT equal.

This inequality between marriage and civil partnership was the reason that we had a referendum and the outcome is that there is only one institution of marriage and all married people (be they of opposite-sex or same-sex couples) will have equal rights and protection under the constitution and civil law.