Same-sex marriage has been legal in Ireland since 16 November 2015.[1] A referendum on 22 May 2015 amended the Constitution of Ireland to provide that marriage is recognised irrespective of the sex of the partners.[2] The measure was signed into law by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, as the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland on 29 August 2015.[3] The Marriage Act 2015, passed by the Oireachtas on 22 October 2015 and signed into law by the Presidential Commission on 29 October 2015, gave legislative effect to the amendment.[4][5][6] Same-sex marriages in the Republic of Ireland began being recognised from 16 November 2015,[7] and the first marriage ceremonies of same-sex couples in Ireland occurred the following day.[8]

Civil partnerships, granted under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, gave same-sex couples rights and responsibilities similar, but not equal, to those of civil marriage.[9] The 2011 Irish census revealed 143,600 cohabiting couples, up from 77,000 in 2002. This included 4,042 in same-sex relationships, up from 1,300.[10]

Background

Law Reform Commission

In December 2000, as part of the Second Programme of Law Reform, the government requested the Law Reform Commission of Ireland to examine the rights and duties of cohabitees. In April 2004, the commission published a consultation paper with provisional recommendations on legal issues related to cohabiting relationships.[11][12][13] The report included an analysis of issues for same-sex couples. Following responses, the final report was launched in December 2006 by Justice Minister Michael McDowell.[14][15]

The consultation proposals called for legal 'presumed' recognition of "qualifying" cohabiting relationships. "Qualifying cohabitees" were defined as unmarried same-sex or opposite-sex cohabiting couples in a 'marriage-like' relationships of 2 years (or 3 years in some cases), to be determined by the courts. The commission reviewed such areas as property, succession, maintenance, pensions, social welfare and tax, and recommended some changes in the law to provide rights for qualifying cohabitees. These rights would be applied by the court on application as distinct from the 'automatic' rights of legal marriage. The commission took care not to propose anything which would equate cohabitation with marriage due to concerns that such a proposal might violate the constitutional protection of the family. The paper also included recommendations on other steps that cohabiting couples should take such writing wills, defining power of attorney, etc.

Constitutional review

The all-party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution,[16] re-established in December 2002, was conducting a review of the entire Constitution of Ireland. In October 2004, it invited submissions on the articles related to the family.[17] Chairman Denis O'Donovan stated that it was examining these articles "to ascertain the extent to which they are serving the good of individuals and the community, with a view to deciding whether changes in them would bring about a greater balance between the two." Among the many issues raised by the committee were the definition of the family and the rights of same-sex couples to marry.

The relevant provisions are Articles 40.3, 41 and 42

Article 41
1° The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of marriage, on which the family is founded, and to protect it against attack.

The committee held oral hearings in spring 2005 and received an unexpectedly large volume of written submissions with at least 60% being opposed to any constitutional changes to marriage or the family,[18][19] including from members of Pro Life Campaign, Family Solidarity and the Mother and Child Campaign.[20] The final report,[21] the tenth interim report of the committee, was launched by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on 24 January 2006.[22] It recommended no change to the constitutional definitions, as it expected such a referendum to fail. It suggested that there should instead be legislation for a civil partnership registration open to same-sex or opposite-sex couples which would confer succession, maintenance and taxation rights. Controversially, it also recommended that the 'presumed' recognition of cohabiting partners by the courts, as recommended by the Law Reform Commission, should also be legislated for, but only for opposite-sex couples. The basis for the limitation was that it would be easy for the courts to determine the validity of an opposite-sex relationship if there were children.

Colley Report

On 20 December 2005, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell announced that he was creating a working group in the Department of Justice to provide options for government consideration.[23] This announcement came on the day after Belfast in Northern Ireland held the first of the new UK civil partnership registration ceremonies. The government said that it would legislate following the report, but Taoiseach Bertie Ahern also said there might not be time to do so before the upcoming election.

Chaired by former TD Anne Colley, this working group included the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), the gay rights lobby organisation, which said they expected a recommendation for civil marriage. The group facilitated a conference on the topic in May 2006, as input to its reports which was attended by experts from other countries which have introduced civil unions and same-sex marriage. During his speech, McDowell was interrupted by members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians opposed to the government plans.[24]

Initially to report by March 2006,[25] the group presented its report to the government in November 2006.[26] They recommended that a civil partnership scheme would resolve most of the issues for same-sex and cohabiting couples, while providing less benefits than marriage. Offering civil marriage to same-sex couples would be open to a constitutional challenge. They also recommended a legal presumption of partnership for couples who have lived together for three years, or have children together. No recommendations were made for couples in non-conjugal relationships due to lack of research. The cabinet reviewed the report, but no legislation was introduced before the 2007 general election, and in the intervening period the government rejected opposition legislation, saying that legislation should await the Supreme Court appeal in Zappone v. Revenue Commissioners.

Other statutory bodies and NGOs

"MarriagEquality" supporting same-sex marriage in Ireland at a demonstration in Dublin, 2009

Since 2002, various statutory bodies have issued reports calling for recognition of de facto same-sex and opposite-sex relationships.

Equality Authority: In January 2001, the authority produced a report on same-sex partnerships in Ireland.[27] In May 2002, the Equality Authority issued its formal report on equality for lesbians, gays and bisexuals,[28] which highlighted the lack of recognition for same-sex couples in Irish law. In a departure from the norm, the report recommended legislative changes. These were to give legal recognition to same-sex couples and to provide equality with married couples in the areas of adoption, inheritance and taxation to eliminate discrimination.

National Economic and Social Forum: In April 2003, the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) published a report calling for the implementation of equality policies for gay, lesbian and bisexual people, and for the Law Reform Commission to consider models to achieve equal rights for same-sex couples in its then upcoming report.[29]

Irish Human Rights Commission: In a report on de facto couples presented to the Justice Minister in May 2006,[30] the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) evaluated international standards in dealing with unmarried couples, and assessed the changes needed in Irish law from a human rights perspective.[31] The Commission called for legal recognition of all de facto relationships, but did not call for civil marriage to be made available to same-sex couples. The IHRC also released a report on the civil partnership scheme in January 2009.[32]

Irish Council for Civil Liberties: Legal recognition of partnership rights and addressing inequalities in family law were a strategic objective of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) for 2004–2009.[33] In a December 2004 submission, they welcomed the Law Reform proposals, but said that registered unions were necessary. In a 2005 radio interview, the partnerships officer said that full civil marriage would not be likely to succeed in a referendum. However, their May 2006 report on the issue, "Equality for All Families" launched by ICCL founder Kader Asmal,[34] called for legislated partnership registration and revisions to the constitutional provisions on civil marriage and the family, to give improved protection to children. This revision, which might require a referendum, should include a right to marry irrespective of sexual orientation.[35]

Civil partnerships

Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in Europe¹
  Marriage
  Civil union
  Limited domestic recognition (cohabitation)
  Limited foreign recognition (residency rights)
  Unrecognized
  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples
¹ May include recent laws or court decisions that have not yet entered into effect.

Civil partnerships (Irish: páirtnéireacht shibhialta, pronounced [ˈpˠaːɾʲtʲnʲeːɾʲəxt̪ˠ ˈhɪvʲɪəl̪ˠt̪ˠə]),[36] introduced by the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, gave same-sex couples rights and responsibilities similar, but not equal to, those of civil marriage.[9] The ability to enter into a civil partnership ended on 16 November 2015.[37] Constitutional protections granted to spouses, such as the spouse of a witness not being compelled to give evidence against their spouse in most cases, is one example of protections granted under civil partnerships. Spouses may further claim privilege in so far as necessary to protect the constitutional right to marital privacy. No such constitutional protections existed for civil partnerships. Further inequalities in relation to the family, immigration and other types of Irish law existed.[38] The legislation also provided rights for participants in long-term cohabiting relationships (opposite-sex or same-sex) who had not entered into a civil partnership or marriage. The following entry focuses primarily on the same-sex civil partnership aspect of the Act, as opposed to the cohabitation aspect.

The Civil Partnership Act came into effect on 1 January 2011.[39] It had been expected that the first ceremonies would not take place until April 2011 due to a three-month waiting period required by law for all civil ceremonies.[40] However, the legislation provided a mechanism for exemptions to be sought through the courts, and the first partnership, which was between two men, was registered on 7 February 2011.[41] While this ceremony was carried out publicly in the Civil Registration Office in Dublin,[42] the mainstream media were not present. It was not until 5 April 2011, the date originally anticipated as the date for the first ceremonies, that the media covered a civil partnership.[43] This partnership ceremony, which was between Hugh Walsh and Barry Dignam, also took place in Dublin.

Tax codes were amended in July 2011 under the Finance (No. 3) Act 2011 to take account of civil partnerships. The Act, in the main, is retrospective to 1 January 2011 and it creates virtual parity, in taxation matters, between civil partners on the one hand and married people on the other hand. The Social Welfare Code had already been amended in December 2010 to take account of civil partnerships.

Registration of civil partnerships discontinued on the day same-sex marriage legislation came into effect in November 2015, though existing civil partners are permitted to retain their relationship status, as there is no automatic conversion from a civil partnership to marriage.[44]

Recognition of foreign partnerships

Certain foreign partnerships and same-sex marriages have been recognised as civil partnerships since 13 January 2011. While Glenn Cunningham and Adriano Vilar are often cited as the first same-sex couple to have their civil partnership formally recognised in Ireland, in fact several hundred couples were recognised together at the exactly the same time. The couple had formed a civil partnership at a ceremony in Northern Ireland in 2010.[45]

Section 5 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 states the criteria used to govern which classes of relationships can be recognised. They are:[46]

  • the relationship is exclusive in nature
  • the relationship is permanent unless the parties dissolve it through the courts
  • the relationship has been registered under the law of that jurisdiction, and
  • the rights and obligations attendant on the relationship are, in the opinion of the Minister, sufficient to indicate that the relationship would be treated comparably to a civil partnership.

The recognition is formally authorised by a statutory instrument, four of which in been passed: in 2010, listing 33 relationship types in 27 jurisdictions;[47] in 2011, adding 6 relationships;[48] in 2012, adding 4;[49] and in 2013, adding 14.[50] The French civil solidarity pact is not included, nor are some other legal relationships, for example, the Dutch registered partnership and some of the domestic partnerships in the United States.[51] The reason is that these kinds of relationships can be dissolved by agreement between the parties (that is by both parties signing a document with a lawyer), not through the courts.

History

In March 2004, there was controversy in Dáil Éireann surrounding a definition of "spouse" when it was claimed that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan, was seeking to exclude non-married partners from social welfare legislation.[52][53] The exclusion was a government response to a finding by the Equality Tribunal that a same-sex couple was discriminated against in travel privileges.

The Civil Registration Act 2004 included a prohibition of same-sex marriage. The act explicitly declared that there was an "impediment to a marriage" if "both parties are of the same sex".[54] In December 2006, the High Court held in Zappone v. Revenue Commissioners that marriage as defined in the Irish Constitution was between a man and a woman and that there was no breach of rights in the refusal of the Revenue Commissioners to recognise foreign same-sex marriages.

Norris bill

In December 2004, Independent Senator David Norris, who had been central to the 1970s and 1980s Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform and had been successful in the European Court of Human Rights in Norris v. Ireland, tabled a private member's bill on civil partnerships in Seanad Éireann. The bill provided for the recognition of unmarried partnerships,[55] both same-sex and opposite-sex cohabiting couples. It defined eligibility for a civil partnership and the process of registering a civil partnership. Rather than listing all the rights of a civil partner, it specified that all the rights of marriage would apply to anyone in a civil partnership. However, it specifically defined the dissolution process and the process for recognising foreign civil partnerships. Norris said the bill was initiated "to protect the rights of adults who find themselves in relationships outside the conventional bonds of marriage" and "to meet the requirements of those who are making arrangements in their personal lives outside the formalities of marriage" and who also "need to be supported in the creation of mature stable relationships". Norris said he had done substantial research in order to achieve consensus on a moderate bill which took on board stated reservations.

The debate, including contributions from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell, took place on 16 February 2005.[56] The majority of speakers supported the principles behind the bill and complimented Senator Norris on his work. Some expressed reservations due to the constitutional protection of the family. A government amendment designed to postpone a vote attracted much acrimony. This postponement was to allow for input from then ongoing investigations: the Law Reform Commission, the High Court case Zappone v. Revenue Commissioners on the recognition of a Canadian marriage and the Constitutional Review Committee. Eventually, it was agreed to debate the bill but adjourn a vote indefinitely.

Labour Party bills

In December 2006, on the same day as the High Court judgment in Zappone, Brendan Howlin, an opposition Labour Party TD, tabled a private member's bill on civil partnerships in Dáil Éireann.[57][58] Similar to the Norris bill in its provisions, this bill defined a civil union as providing all the rights and duties as defined for marriage, but specifically limited civil unions to same-sex couples.[59] It also provided for adoption by couples in such unions.

The debate,[60] again including contributions from Justice Minister Michael McDowell, took place in February 2007. All speakers supported civil unions for same-sex couples and complimented Deputy Howlin on the bill. One expressed reservations about adoption. Minister McDowell claimed that the bill violated the constitutional provisions on marriage and the family. Government speakers said that civil unions needed to be introduced but that more time was needed to take account of the ongoing Supreme Court case and investigation work in the Department of Justice.[61] The government amended the bill to delay debate for six months. As expected, the bill then fell when the Dáil was dissolved in the intervening period for the 2007 general election. Deputy Howlin said that the real reason for the delay was that the government did not want to enact this type of social legislation in the face of an election.[62]

Labour again brought their bill before the new house on 31 October 2007 but the government again voted the bill down. The Green Party, now in government also voted in opposition to the bill, with spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe arguing that the bill was unconstitutional but without giving a reasoning. The government committed itself to introducing its own bill for registered civil partnerships by 31 March 2008,[63] a date it would fail to meet.

Government legislation

The Green Party entered government with Fianna Fáil in 2007, and a commitment to legislation introducing civil partnerships was agreed in the Programme for Government in June of that year. On 24 June 2008, the government announced the publication of a civil partnership bill.[64][65] In response to the legislation, Senator Jim Walsh put forward a party motion to counter the bill.[65][66] The Irish Times reported that around 30 unidentified backbenchers had signed the motion.[67] One anonymous senator was quoted as claiming that the motion "would have considerable support from the more conservative sections of the parliamentary party".[66] Taoiseach Brian Cowen responded by insisting that the registration of same-sex couples would not interfere with the constitutional status of marriage. Cowen noted that the bill had been drawn up in close consultation with the Attorney General, Paul Gallagher, and had been included in the Programme for Government.[68] The motion was referred to the parliamentary party's justice committee on 1 July 2008. A Fianna Fáil spokesperson was quoted as saying that there was "broad support" within the party for the legislation, while the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, reaffirmed the constitutional compatibility of the law.[69] The announcement was denounced as inadequate by the opposition Labour and Sinn Féin parties. Sinn Féin spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh commented that "the government must do better".[70][71]

The civil partnership bill was introduced on 26 June 2009.[72][73] Dermot Ahern, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, introduced the bill's second stage on 3 December 2009. He said that consequent modifications to the finance and social welfare provisions would come into effect when the bill was passed.[74] There was further second stage debate on the bill on 21 January 2010.[75][76] The second stage finished on 27 January 2010, and the committee stage of the bill was completed on 27 May 2010.[77] The bill was passed in the final stage by the Dáil without a vote on 1 July 2010.[78] It was passed in the final stage in the Seanad by a vote of 48–4 on 8 July 2010 and was signed by President Mary McAleese on 19 July 2010.[79] Minister Ahern said, "This is one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation to be enacted since independence. Its legislative advance has seen an unprecedented degree of unity and support within both Houses of the Oireachtas."[80]

The Minister for Justice signed a commencement order for the Act on 23 December 2010. The Act came into force on 1 January 2011.[39] The date of commencement of the Act was dependent on further legislation in the areas of taxation and social welfare, which was enacted separately. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 was passed by the Dáil on 14 December and the Seanad on 17 December 2010.[40][81]

Statistics

2,071 civil partnerships were registered in Ireland between 2011 and 2015. 1,298 of them had been between men and 773 had been between women.[82][83][84][85][86]

Civil partnerships in Ireland[82][83][84][85][86]
YearFemaleMaleTotal
2011 201335536
2012 166263429
2013 130208338
2014 150242392
2015 126250376

End of civil partnerships

Following Ireland's legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2015, the ability to enter into a civil partnership was closed off. As of 16 November 2015, no further civil partnerships are granted in Ireland and existing civil partners only retain that status if they do not marry. Any civil partnership converted into a marriage is dissolved.[37]

Same-sex marriage

In November 2004, Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan were granted leave by the High Court of Ireland to pursue a claim to have their September 2003 Vancouver marriage recognised for the filing of joint tax returns in Ireland.[87] The case was heard in October 2006.[88] The judgment was delivered in December 2006 and found that the Irish Constitution had always meant for marriage to be between a man and a woman.[89][90] The case was appealed to the Supreme Court in February 2007.[91] It came before the Supreme Court in 2012,[92] although returned to the High Court to challenge different elements of law, specifically the Civil Registration Act 2004 and the Civil Partnership Act 2010.[93]

Preparation for the referendum

The coalition government, which took office in March 2011, convened a Constitutional Convention to discuss proposed amendments to the Constitution of Ireland, including plans to introduce same-sex marriage.[94] On 10 July 2012, the Dáil referred the issue of whether to make provision for same-sex marriage to the Constitutional Convention, to report back in a year. On 14 April 2013, the convention approved provisions allowing for same-sex marriage, to be discussed by the Oireachtas and be put to a public referendum.[95][96] On 2 July 2013, the Constitutional Convention delivered the formal report to the Oireachtas, which had four months to respond.[97] On 5 November 2013, it was announced that a referendum to legalise same-sex marriage would be held in the first half of 2015.[98] On 1 July 2014, Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced that the same-sex marriage referendum would take place in spring 2015.[99] The referendum was held on 22 May 2015.[100]

With the signing into law of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 on 6 April 2015, same-sex couples have the ability to adopt stepchildren, as well as being able to obtain parental recognition in assisted reproduction methods.[101][102] On 18 January 2016, key provisions of the law (including spouses, stepparents, civil partners and cohabiting partners being able to apply to become guardians of a child or for custody) went into effect, following the signing of a commencement order by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald.[103] Portions of the Act allowing for joint adoption, which never went into effect as no commencement order was signed, were repealed in 2017 after passage of the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017, which legalised joint adoption by married same-sex couples.[104]

Marriage Equality referendum

How the Irish electorate voted, by constituency:
  72.5%–75%
  70%–72.49%
  67.5%–69.99%
  65%–67.49%
  62.5%–64.99%
  60%–62.49%
  57.5%–59.99%
  55%–57.49%
  52.5%–54.99%
  50%–52.49%
  48.58%

The amendment to the Constitution was moved on 21 January 2015.[105] The referendum proposed to add the following text to Article 41 of the Constitution:[106] Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.[lower-alpha 1]

In March 2015, the Department of Justice and Equality published the general scheme of a new marriage bill. The bill set out the changes to be made to legislation if the proposed amendment was approved. These changes included removing the legislative bar on same-sex couples marrying (though the wording of the amendment is self-executing and designed to invalidate it irrespective of legislative delay),[107] addressing the situation of civil partnerships, and updating terminology of existing legislation to reflect the new provision.[108][109]

Wikinews has related news:

The Marriage Equality referendum was held on 22 May 2015. With votes from all 43 constituencies counted, the 62.07% "yes" vote assured the passage of the referendum.[110] In the aftermath of the result, Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald stated that legislation would be brought through the Oireachtas by summer (i.e. sometime in June or July 2015) to make same-sex marriage a reality.[111] However, an unsuccessful legal challenge contesting the validity of the referendum delayed the legislation from going to government and the Oireachtas.[112] The referendum results were published in Iris Oifigiúil on 26 May.[113]

Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 1,201,607 62.07
No 734,300 37.93
Valid votes 1,935,907 99.29
Invalid or blank votes 13,818 0.71
Total votes 1,949,725 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 3,221,681 60.52

Marriage Act 2015

On 16 September 2015, following the High Court's rejection of the legal challenge contesting the validity of the referendum result,[114] Fitzgerald brought a same-sex marriage bill before cabinet. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Equality stated that "the aim is to have the bill enacted as quickly as possible, subject to the legislative process, so that the first same-sex marriages can take place this year."[115] Under the legislation, the first same-sex marriages would be those of couples who convert a notification of their intention to register a civil partnership into a notification of their intention to marry. The bill passed all stages of the legislative process in the Oireachtas on 22 October 2015.[5] On 29 October 2015, the bill was signed into law by the Presidential Commission, thus becoming the Marriage Act 2015 (Irish: An tAcht um Pósadh, 2015, pronounced [ənˠ ˌt̪ˠaxt̪ˠ ʊmˠ ˈpˠoːsˠuː, -sˠə]).[6]

Commencement

Though most same-sex couples seeking to marry are required to give three months notice (as is the case for opposite-sex couples), same-sex couples already in a civil partnership were allowed to make use of a 5-day fast track provision in the legislation.[116] As of 16 November 2015, same-sex couples who married abroad have their marriages recognised in Ireland.[37] The first marriage ceremonies of same-sex couples occurred the following day, on 17 November 2015.[8][117] The first couple to marry in Ireland were Richard Dowling and Cormac Gollogly on Tuesday, 17 November in Clonmel, County Tipperary. The couple said they "[were] really delighted to be able to do it and we are 12 years together so it was obviously the next move. Having a full marriage was important to us so now we can relax and get old together."[118]

Subsequent changes

On 5 May 2016, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly, announced that the Irish Government had approved the publication of a new adoption bill.[119] The bill would amend the Adoption Act 2010 and the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 and give legislative effect to the Thirty-first Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland (the children referendum). The purposes of the bill were to allow children to be adopted by their foster carers, where they have cared for the child for at least 18 months, and to allow two people regardless of marital status to adopt children, thus granting married same-sex couples the right to adopt. The bill also allows for the adoption of a child by civil partners and cohabiting couples and gives children a greater say in the adoption process, among many other reforms to the adoption system.[120][121][122] The bill passed the Dáil on 30 November 2016,[123][124] and received approval by the Seanad on 13 June 2017. The bill was signed into law by President Michael D. Higgins on 19 July 2017, becoming the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017.[125] The commencement order was signed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, on 18 October 2017 and the law went into effect the following day.[126][127]

In January 2019, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, announced that the government had published a bill to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004 to allow lesbian couples who have had donor-assisted children to be automatically registered as their parents. Under the changes, parents may choose the labels "mother" and "father" or "parents", meaning that the non-biological mother would be able to legally register as a co-parent. Previously, only the biological mother could be named on the child's birth certificate. The legislation passed the Daíl in March 2019, and the Seanad in May 2019, and was signed into law by President Higgins on 23 May 2019. It came into effect that same day.[128][129]

Statistics

91 same-sex marriages were performed between 16 November and 31 December 2015; 47 were between two men and 44 were between two women.[86][130]

Data published by the Department of Social Protection a few days ahead of the first anniversary of the Marriage Equality referendum showed that 412 same-sex marriages had been performed in Ireland since November 2015,[131] distributed by county as follows: Dublin (213), Cork (43), Limerick (25), Wicklow (17), Galway (14), Donegal, Kildare and Wexford (all three at 11), Kerry (9), Louth (8), Kilkenny (7), Offaly (6), Meath and Waterford (both at 5), Cavan, Sligo and Tipperary (all three at 4), Laois and Mayo (both at 3), Longford, Roscommon and Westmeath (all three at 2), Carlow, Leitrim and Monaghan (all three at 1), and Clare (0).

1,082 same-sex couples married in Ireland in the one year following the law's entry into force, averaging 21 same-sex weddings a week. 450 of these marriages were performed in Dublin, 93 in Cork, 56 in Wicklow and 48 in Kildare. The counties with the fewest same-sex marriages were Longford with two, followed by three in Roscommon and five in Leitrim.[132] 1,056 same-sex marriages took place in 2016, the first full year when same-sex couples could get married; 606 were male unions and 450 were female unions.[133][134]

Number of marriages performed in Ireland[86][133][135][136][137]
YearMarriages
between women		Marriages
between men		Same-sex
marriages		Total
marriages		 % same-sex
2015 44479122,0250.41%
2016 4506061,05621,5704.90%
2017 33542475921,2623.57%
2018 29237266420,3893.26%
2019 28735364019,6733.25%
2020 1441703149,5233.30%
2021[138] 24825250017,2172.90%
2022[139] 31330561823,1732.67%

Figures for 2020 are much lower than previous years because of the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public debate

Fianna Fáil poster in support of the Thirty-Fourth Amendment
Participants at Dublin Pride celebrating the success of the "Yes" campaign, June 2015

Following the decriminalisation of buggery in 1993, LGBT rights was not a high-profile issue in Ireland. From 2001 however, Irish media increasingly covered international developments on the recognition of same-sex partnerships.[140][141][142][143] This has included coverage of reports on the issue, legal cases taken by Irish same-sex couples, surrogate parenthood,[144] adoption,[145] extra-legal same-sex unions, blessings and the foreign partnerships of Irish politicians.[146][147] There was extensive coverage of the 2005 introduction of civil partnerships by the British Government,[148] which applies to Northern Ireland.

Irish legislators began to comment publicly from 2003,[149] some tentatively suggesting legislation, and some referring to Catholic teachings.[150] Among the general public, reaction was favourable, with a 2005 online poll showing most respondents seeing some recognition as inevitable and acceptable.[151] More rigorous public polls taken during 2006 showed an increasing majority of the population, up to 80%,[152][153][154][155] supporting the introduction of some partnership rights for same-sex couples, with a slim majority favouring marriage. The numbers in favour of adoption by same-sex couples were lower but less clear.

Some public and religious figures, including bishops in the Catholic Church,[156] and in the Church of Ireland also proposed legal recognition in 2004, but in a form different from marriage.[157] Existing and new gay organisations such as the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, GLUE magazine and LGBT Noise began specifically campaigning for recognition in 2006.

At the 2002 general election, only the manifestos of the Green Party and the Labour Party explicitly referred to the rights of same-sex couples,[158] but from 2004 all political parties, including the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat government, produced policies or made statements in favour of varying forms of recognition.[159][160][161][162] In 2004, Fine Gael was the first party to launch an explicit policy document supporting civil partnerships. In the run-up to the 2007 general election, the manifestos of all parties supported civil unions for same-sex couples, with Sinn Féin and the Green Party supporting civil marriage.[163] All parties ran advertisements in the Gay Community News with commitments to same-sex couples. In 2012, Sinn Féin sought to provide opportunities to bring same-sex marriage to the fore by introducing motions of support at the city and county council level.[164] By November 2013, all parties in the Dáil supported same-sex marriage: the Labour Party,[165] the Green Party,[166] the Socialist Party,[167] Sinn Féin,[168] Fianna Fáil,[169][170] and Fine Gael.[171]

Polling

A survey carried out in 2008 showed that 84% of Irish people supported civil marriage or civil partnerships for same-sex couples, with 58% (up from 51%) supporting full marriage rights in registry offices. The number who believed same-sex couples should only be allowed to have civil partnerships fell in the same period, from 33% to 26%.[172] A public survey in October 2008 revealed that 62% of adults would vote "yes" in a referendum to extend civil marriage to same-sex couples. A breakdown of the results showed that support was strongest among younger people and in urban areas. Women were more supportive at 68% compared to 56% of men. There was slightly less support for same-sex couples being given the right to adopt. A total of 58% of those under 50 believed same-sex couples should be able to adopt, falling to 33% among the over-50s. A total of 54% believed the definition of the family unit in the Irish Constitution should be changed to include same-sex families.[173]

A survey commissioned by MarriagEquality in February 2009 indicated that 62% of Irish people supported same-sex marriage and would vote in favour of it if a referendum were held.[174]

In September 2010, a survey by The Irish Times/Behaviour Attitudes of 1,006 people showed that 67% of respondents felt same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. This majority extended across all age groups, with the exception of the over-65s, and 66% of Catholics were in favour of same-sex marriage. Only 25% disagreed that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, opposition that was concentrated among older people and those in rural areas. In terms of same-sex adoption, 46% were in support and 38% opposed; however, a majority of women, 18–44-year-olds, and urban dwellers supported the idea. The survey also showed that 91% of people would not think less of someone who came out as homosexual, while 60% felt the recent civil partnership legislation was not an attack on marriage.[175]

A poll in March 2011 conducted by The Sunday Times/RED C showed that 73% of people supported allowing same-sex marriage, with 53% "agreeing strongly" with the idea, and 60% felt that same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children.[176] A poll in January 2012 conducted by RED C for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform showed that 73% of voters supported the idea of same-sex marriages being recognised in the Irish Constitution,[177][178] and a late 2012 poll by Millward Brown Lansdowne showed that 75% of respondents would vote in favour of extending marriage to same-sex couples.[179]

A poll in November 2013 by RED C for Paddy Power showed that 76% of voters intended to support the introduction of same-sex marriage in any referendum, with 18% opposed and 6% undecided (with the undecideds excluded, the ratio was 81% support and 19% against). Support was highest among women (85%), those under 44 (87%), Labour supporters (96%) and those living in Dublin and commuter counties (83%).[180] A February 2014 poll by RED C for RTÉ's Prime Time and the Business Post showed that 76% of voters would vote "yes" to the introduction of same-sex marriage in any referendum.[181] A poll conducted two months later by The Irish Times and Ipsos MRBI found that 67% of respondents would vote in favour of same-sex marriage and 21% against, with 12% undecided. When the undecided were excluded, 76% were in favour and 24% against.[182]

The 2015 Eurobarometer found that 80% of Irish people thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, whilst 15% were against.[183]

A Pew Research Center poll, conducted between April and August 2017 and published in May 2018, showed that 66% of Irish people supported same-sex marriage, 27% were opposed and 7% did not know or refused to answer.[184] When divided by religion, 87% of religiously unaffiliated people, 80% of non-practicing Christians and 43% of church-attending Christians supported same-sex marriage.[185] Opposition was 20% among 18–34-year-olds.[186]

The 2019 Eurobarometer found that 79% of Irish people thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, while 13% were opposed.[187]

Opinion polls on issue of same-sex marriage or voting intention in the 2015 marriage referendum
Date Yes No Don't know
[n 1]		 Polling org. Commissioned by References
25 April 201572%20%8%RED CBusiness Post[188]
17 April 201577%14%9%Amárach ResearchRTÉ – Claire Byrne Live[189]
27 March 201574%26%N/A[n 2]Ipsos MRBIThe Irish Times[190]
24 January 201577%22%1%RED CBusiness Post[191][192]
8 December 201471%17%12%Ipsos MRBIThe Irish Times[193]
October 201476%24%N/A[n 2]Ipsos MRBIThe Irish Times[193]
April 201467%21%12%Ipsos MRBIThe Irish Times[194]
20 February 201476%19%5%RED CBusiness Post/Prime Time[195][196]
7 November 201376%18%6%RED CPaddy Power[196][197]
November 201253%30%17%Ipsos MRBIThe Irish Times[194]
Notes
  1. ↑ Don't know, undecided, or refused to answer
  2. 1 2 Yes-No percentages excluding respondents refusing to answer or uncertain.

Support is strongest among younger voters.[196][194][190] Sinn Féin and Labour voters are somewhat more in favour than Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil voters.[196][190] Among those intending to vote "yes" in January 2015, 33/77 had "some reservations about same-sex marriage", and 29/77 had "some reservations about adoption by gay couples".[192] A poll conducted a week before the referendum by The Irish Times showed that women supported same-sex marriage more than men.[198]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Irish: Féadfaidh beirt, gan beann ar a ngnéas, conradh pósta a dhéanamh de réir dlí.

References

  1. ↑ "Ireland says Yes to same-sex marriage". RTÉ News. 23 May 2015. Archived from the original on 23 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "President signs same-sex marriage into Constitution". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Marriage Bill 2015 (Number 78 of 2015) – Tithe an Oireachtais". 15 September 2015. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 O'Regan, Michael (22 October 2015). "Same-sex marriage legislation passes all stages in Oireachtas". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Bill allowing for same-sex marriage signed into law". The Irish Times. 29 October 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Patsy McGarry (31 October 2015). "Same-sex marriage will be possible from November 2016". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  7. 1 2 "First same-sex marriages take place". RTÉ News. 17 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  8. 1 2 Marriage Equality. "Marriage v Civil Partnership FAQs". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  9. ↑ [TheJournal.ie] (2012). "Census shows family sizes are still declining". Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  10. ↑ Law Reform Commission (2004). "The Law Reform Recommendations". Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "Release of the Law Reform Commission Recommendations". RTÉ News. 27 April 2004. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2004.
  12. ↑ "Prime Time report on the Law Reform Commission Recommendations". RTÉ News. 6 May 2004. Archived from the original on 7 February 2005.
  13. ↑ Law Reform Commission (2006). "The Law Reform Final Recommendations" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "Report seeks improved rights for unregistered couples". Irish Examiner. 1 December 2006. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Constitution Review Committee Website". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
  16. ↑ Liam Reid (18 October 2004). "Gay marriage under focus in review of family rights". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  17. ↑ "Day 2 Contributions the Oireachtas committee on the constitution". Irish Examiner. 21 April 2005. Archived from the original on 26 October 2008.
  18. ↑ "Day 4 Contributions to the Oireachtas committee on the constitution". Irish Examiner. 23 April 2005. Archived from the original on 26 October 2008.
  19. ↑ Beelsey, Arthur (11 March 2005). "Thousands join call for no change in status of family". The Irish Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  20. ↑ Constitution Review Committee (2006). "Report on the Constitution and the Family" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
  21. ↑ "Launch of the Oireachtas Constitution Report". RTÉ News. 24 January 2006. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2006.
  22. ↑ "Launch of the Justice Ministry Working Group". RTÉ News. 20 December 2005. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2005.
  23. ↑ "Minister for Justice Heckled by Protesters". RTÉ News. 26 May 2006. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2006.
  24. ↑ DOJ Working Group (2006). "Options Paper on Domestic Partnership" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
  25. ↑ "Report calls for same-sex partnership scheme". RTÉ News. 28 November 2006. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  26. ↑ Equality Authority (2001). "Report on same-sex couples" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2006.
  27. ↑ Equality Authority (2002). "Report on LGB Equality" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2003. Retrieved 2 February 2006.
  28. ↑ NESF (2003). "Report 27 – LGB Rights" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2006.
  29. ↑ Human Rights Commission (2006). "Report on deFacto couples" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2006.
  30. ↑ "Release of the ICHR Report". RTÉ News. 12 May 2006. Archived from the original on 5 May 2007.
  31. ↑ "Discussion Document on the Scheme of the Civil Partnership Bill 2008". Irish Human Rights Commission. Archived from the original (DOC) on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  32. ↑ Irish Council for Civil Liberties (2005). "Initiative on Relationships Equality". Archived from the original on 20 June 2006. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  33. ↑ "Equality for all Families" (PDF). Irish Council for Civil Liberties. April 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  34. ↑ "ICCL Pushes for gay equality". Pink news. 24 May 2006. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  35. ↑ "Páirtnéireacht shibhialta agus lánúineacha comhghnéis". Citizens Information. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  36. 1 2 3 McGarry, Patsy (31 October 2015). "Same-sex marriage will be possible from November". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  37. ↑ "Marriage Equality's Missing Pieces Audit: Full List of Provisions Examined". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  38. 1 2 "Partnership laws come into force". Irishtimes.com. 1 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  39. 1 2 "Ahern announces commencement of Civil Partnership and Cohabitants Act". Justice.ie. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  40. ↑ Millar, Scott (21 February 2011). "First civil partnership ceremony for same-sex couple". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  41. ↑ The certificate of the first civil partnership, as registered by the Civil Registration Service. Available at "Applicant's Details". Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  42. ↑ "First Irish public civil partnership services". RTÉ News. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011.
  43. ↑ "Church in Ireland needs 'reality check' after gay marriage vote". BBC. 24 May 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  44. ↑ O'Brien, Carl (17 January 2011). "First gay couple to have civil partnership recognised". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  45. ↑ "Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (S5)". Irishstatutebook.ie. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  46. ↑ "S.I. No. 649/2010 – Civil Partnership (Recognition of Registered Foreign Relationships) Order 2010". Irish Statute Book. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  47. ↑ "S.I. No. 642/2011 – Civil Partnership (Recognition of Registered Foreign Relationships) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  48. ↑ "S.I. No. 505/2012 – Civil Partnership (Recognition of Registered Foreign Relationships) Order 2012". Irish Statute Book. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  49. ↑ "S.I. No. 490/2013 – Civil Partnership (Recognition of Registered Foreign Relationships) Order 2013" (PDF). Attorney General of Ireland. 10 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  50. ↑ Geen, Jessica (13 January 2011). "Ireland recognises foreign gay marriage and partnerships". Pink News. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  51. ↑ "Government accused of bid to withdraw gay rights". RTÉ News. 11 March 2004. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
  52. ↑ "Dáil Debates on 2004 Social Welfare Legislation". Oireachtas Debate Transcripts. 11 March 2004. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011.
  53. ↑ "Civil Registration Act 2004: §2 Interpretation (2)(e)". Irish Statute Book. 27 February 2004. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  54. ↑ "Civil Partnership Bill 2004". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2004. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  55. ↑ "Civil Partnership Bill 2004: Second Stage. – Seanad Éireann (22nd Seanad) – Wednesday, 16 February 2005". Oireachatas. 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  56. ↑ The Labour Party (2006). "Civil Unions Bill – Description". Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2006.
  57. ↑ "Press Release on Civil Unions Bill". Labour Party. 14 December 2006. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007.
  58. ↑ "Civil Unions Bill 2006". Oireachtas Publications]. 2006. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  59. ↑ "Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage. – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) –Tuesday, 20 Feb 2007". Oireachtas. 2007. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  60. ↑ "Irish Parliament Rejects Gay Unions Bill". 365Gay. 22 February 2007. Archived from the original on 21 June 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  61. ↑ "Irish Govt accused on Civil Unions defeat". PinksNews.co.uk. 27 February 2007. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2007.
  62. ↑ Grew, Tony (1 November 2007). "Irish Government to introduce civil partnerships". Pink News. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  63. ↑ "Heads of Civil Partnership (Same-Sex Partnership) Bill Published". Irish Election. 24 June 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  64. 1 2 "The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform: General Scheme of Civil Partnership Bill". Justice.ie. 25 July 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  65. 1 2 "FF Senator leads move to deny gay couples right to register". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  66. ↑ "How gay marriage went mainstream". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  67. ↑ "Taoiseach defends civil partnership plans". RTÉ News. 27 June 2008. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  68. ↑ "FF refers civil partnership motion to committee". RTÉ News. 2 July 2008. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  69. ↑ "Press releases » Media centre » The Labour Party on Same Sex Marriage". Labour.ie. 26 June 2008. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  70. ↑ "Government must do better than Civil Partnership Bill". Sinn Féin. 24 June 2008. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  71. ↑ "Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010". Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  72. ↑ McGee, Harry (27 June 2009). "Partnership rights in place for gay couples by end of year". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  73. ↑ "Civil Partnership Bill 2009: Second Stage. – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil) – Thursday, 3 December 2009". Houses of the Oireachtas. 3 December 2009. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  74. ↑ "Dáil debates Civil Partnership Bill". RTÉ News. 21 January 2010. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012.
  75. ↑ "Dáil debates civil unions Bill". The Irish Times. 21 January 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  76. ↑ "Partnership Bill includes five-year cohabitation rule". Irishtimes.com. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  77. ↑ "Dáil passes Civil Partnership Bill". Irishtimes.com. 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  78. ↑ "Civil Partnership Bill passes all stages". Breakingnews.ie. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  79. ↑ "Ahern Welcomes Coming Into Law of Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010". Department of Justice and Law Reform. 17 July 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  80. ↑ "Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2010". Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  81. 1 2 "Marriages and Civil Partnerships 2011 – CSO – Central Statistics Office". Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  82. 1 2 "Marriages and Civil Partnerships 2012 – CSO – Central Statistics Office". Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  83. 1 2 "Marriages and Civil Partnerships 2013 – CSO – Central Statistics Office". Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  84. 1 2 "Marriages and Civil Partnerships 2014 – CSO – Central Statistics Office". Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  85. 1 2 3 4 "Marriages and Civil Partnerships 2015 – CSO – Central Statistics Office". Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  86. ↑ "Launch of the Gilligan/Zappone tax case". RTÉ News. 9 November 2004. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2005.
  87. ↑ "Landmark case by lesbian couple under way". RTÉ News. 3 October 2006. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  88. ↑ KalCase.org (2006). "Judgment of the Case of Ann-Louise Gilligan and Katherine Zappone". Archived from the original (DOC) on 5 January 2007.
  89. ↑ "Lesbian couple lose marriage recognition case". RTÉ News. 14 December 2006. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2006.
  90. ↑ "Lesbian couple take case to Supreme Court". RTÉ News. 23 February 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2007.
  91. ↑ "Gay couple in Supreme Court over right to wed". The Irish Times. 9 May 2012. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  92. ↑ "Fresh Marriage Equality Challenge for High Court". Marriage Equality. 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013.
  93. ↑ Dáil debates Vol.728 No.3 p.5 Archived 25 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine 22 March 2011
  94. ↑ "Constitutional Convention recommends referendum on same-sex marriage". RTÉ News. 14 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  95. ↑ "Amending the Constitution to provide for same – sex marriage". Third Report. Convention on the Constitution. June 2013. p. 6. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  96. ↑ "The Countdown begins: Constitutional Convention lodges report on Marriage Equality for same-sex couples". Marriage Equality. 2 July 2013. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  97. ↑ "Govt will 'actively support' same-sex marriage referendum in 2015". RTÉ News. 5 November 2013. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  98. ↑ "Same-sex marriage referendum in spring 2015". RTÉ News. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  99. ↑ "Ireland Sets Date For Same Sex Marriage Vote". Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  100. ↑ Mary Minihan (31 March 2015). "What happens next to the Children and Family Relationships Bill?". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  101. ↑ Ireland, Office of the President of. "The President 2015 Legislation.html". president.ie. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  102. ↑ "Minister Fitzgerald signs order for commencement of landmark family law reform". Department of Justice and Equality. 18 January 2016. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  103. ↑ "Irish Statute Book". Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  104. ↑ "The Department of Justice and Equality: Government announces wording for Marriage Equality referendum". Justice.ie. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  105. ↑ "Bill as introduced" (PDF). Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015. Oireachtas. January 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  106. ↑ "Same-sex marriage referendum: a legal review". Irishtimes.com. 25 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  107. ↑ "DRAFT of GENERAL SCHEME OF MARRIAGE BILL 2015" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  108. ↑ "Religious solemnisers will not be obliged to perform same-sex marriage". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  109. ↑ "Referendum 2015 Results". The Irish Times. 23 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  110. ↑ "Same-sex marriage legislation due this summer, says Fitzgerald". RTÉ. 23 May 2015. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  111. ↑ "Legislation enacting Irish gay marriage vote delayed". Reuters. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  112. ↑ Ní Fhlanghaile, Ríona (26 May 2015). "Referendum Act 1994: Constitutional Referendum" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil (in Irish and English). Dublin: Stationery Office (42): 1067–69.
  113. ↑ "Court of Appeal dismisses two challenges against Same Sex Marriage Referendum result". Irish Independent. 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  114. ↑ "Same-sex marriage: First Irish ceremonies expected within months". BBC. 16 September 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  115. ↑ O'Brien, Carl (26 October 2015). "Same-sex civil partners to be able to wed with five days' notice". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  116. ↑ "Same-sex couple ties the knot in Donegal". The Irish Times. 17 November 2015. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  117. ↑ Ahlstrom, Dick (17 November 2015). "Ireland's first same-sex marriage to take place this morning". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015.
  118. ↑ "An Bille Uchtála (Leasú), 2016; Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  119. ↑ "Minister Reilly publishes Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016". Department of Children and Youth Affairs. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  120. ↑ "Civil partners can adopt following new bill". UTV Ireland. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016.
  121. ↑ Chubb, Laura (7 May 2016). "New adoption bill published in Ireland gives same-sex couples right to adopt". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  122. ↑ "Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016:...: 30 Nov 2016: Dáil debates (KildareStreet.com)". kildarestreet.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  123. ↑ "Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 (Number 23 of 2016) – Tithe an Oireachtais". Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  124. ↑ "Adoption reform bill is signed into law by President Higgins". Newstalk. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  125. ↑ "Unmarried gay and heterosexual couples can now adopt a child". Irish Independent. 18 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  126. ↑ "Adoption amendments come into force on Thursday. Minister Zappone signs the Commencement Order for the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017". Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  127. ↑ "Minister Doherty to Introduce Civil Registration Bill 2019". Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. 11 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  128. ↑ "Both parents in some female same-sex relationships can now be named on a child's birth certificate". thejournal.ie. 23 May 2019. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  129. ↑ Holland, Kitty (15 April 2016). "CSO figures show 91 same-sex marriages since referendum". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  130. ↑ "Only one Irish county did not have a gay marriage since vote". The Irish Times. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  131. ↑ Figures show over a thousand same-sex marriages have occurred a year after same-sex marriage was legalised Archived 12 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine Irish Mirror
  132. 1 2 "Marriages and Civil Partnerships 2016 – CSO – Central Statistics Office". cso.ie. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  133. ↑ Burns, Sarah. "Same-sex couples account for one in 20 Irish marriages". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  134. ↑ "Marriages 2017 – CSO – Central Statistics Office". cso.ie. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  135. ↑ "Marriages 2018 – CSO – Central Statistics Office". cso.ie. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  136. ↑ "Marriages 2019 – CSO – Central Statistics Office". cso.ie. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  137. ↑ "Marriages 2021". Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  138. ↑ "Marriages 2022". Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  139. ↑ "Introduction of gay marriage in the Netherlands". RTÉ News. 1 April 2001. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
  140. ↑ "FiveSevenLive – Vatican Condemns same sex unions". RTÉ News. 31 July 2003. Archived from the original on 13 September 2005.
  141. ↑ "Massachusetts sanctions gay marriage". RTÉ News. 17 May 2005. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
  142. ↑ "Legalisation of gay marriage in Canada". RTÉ News. 29 June 2005. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
  143. ↑ "Surrogate Parenthood". Irish Examiner. 7 August 2001. Archived from the original on 15 May 2005.
  144. ↑ "Gay Adoption". RTÉ TV – Question and Answers. 24 June 2002. Archived from the original on 22 October 2002.
  145. ↑ "Irish politicians – Partnerships". Irish Examiner. 14 May 2004. Archived from the original on 26 October 2008.
  146. ↑ "Paisley censured for homophobic remarks". RTÉ News. 3 February 2005. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
  147. ↑ "Introduction of Civil Partnerships in the United Kingdom". Irish Examiner. 20 December 2005. Archived from the original on 26 October 2008.
  148. ↑ "Debate on gay marriage". RTÉ TV – Prime Time. 7 August 2003. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010.
  149. ↑ "Discussion on gay marriage". RTÉ News – Morning Ireland. 1 August 2003. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008.
  150. ↑ "Should gay marriages be recognised in Ireland?". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004.
  151. ↑ "Irish Ponder Same-Sex Unions, Adoption". Angus Reid. 22 February 2006. Archived from the original on 27 February 2010.
  152. ↑ "Report on national survey on same-sex partnerships". Irish Examiner. 21 February 2006. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2006.
  153. ↑ "Sunday Tribune poll on same-sex partnerships". RTÉ News. 21 October 2006. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2006.
  154. ↑ "80% believe gay couples deserved legal recognition – Survey". BreakingNews.ie. 24 November 2006. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
  155. ↑ "Catholic Bishop on gay partnerships". RTÉ News. 16 November 2004. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012.
  156. ↑ "Church of Ireland Bishop on gay partnerships". RTÉ News. 10 March 2004. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
  157. ↑ "Labour Party (Ireland) 2002 general election Manifesto" (PDF). Labour Party (Ireland). 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  158. ↑ "Fine Gael Same-sex partnership proposal". RTÉ News. 24 June 2004. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2006.
  159. ↑ "Taoisearch Ahern on Better Rights for Couples". BBC News. 15 November 2004. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2005.
  160. ↑ Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell of the Progressive Democrats said in 2004 that Ireland should pursue civil partnerships.
  161. ↑ "Labour launches civil union Bill". The Irish Times. 14 December 2006. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  162. ↑ "Green Party policy on partnership rights and gay marriage". Green Party. 12 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 January 2007.
  163. ↑ "Cork City Council unanimously backs gay marriage in landmark vote". Irish Examiner. 10 July 2012. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  164. ↑ "Labour's goal is full equality for gay citizens, Gilmore tells symposium" (Press release). Labour Party. 7 May 2009. Archived from the original on 16 September 2010.
  165. ↑ "Providing for Same-Sex Marriage". Green Party. Archived from the original on 21 January 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  166. ↑ "Pride 09 – Full Same Sex Marriage Rights Now!". Socialist Party. 30 June 2009. Archived from the original on 23 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  167. ↑ "Recognition of same sex marriage long overdue". Sinn Féin. 31 March 2004. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  168. ↑ "FF delegates back equal marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples". Irish Examiner. 3 March 2012. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  169. ↑ "Fianna Fail Passes Motion on Same Sex Marriage". 98fm.com. 28 September 2012. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  170. ↑ Sheahan, Fionnan (5 November 2013). "Government to call for Yes vote for gay marriage". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  171. ↑ "Increased support for gay marriage – Survey". BreakingNews.ie. 31 March 2008. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  172. ↑ "Same-sex marriage gets poll support". The Irish Times. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  173. ↑ "Irish gay marriage advocates claim massive public support". PinkNews. 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  174. ↑ "Yes to gay marriage and premarital sex: a nation strips off its conservative values". The Irish Times. 9 September 2010. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  175. ↑ "Nearly three-quarters of Irish people in favour of gay marriage". TheJournal.ie. 6 March 2011. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  176. ↑ "Poll finds Irish support for gay marriage at 73%". PinkNews. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  177. ↑ The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (January 2012). "Report on Reasons Behind Voter Behaviour in the Oireachtas Inquiry Referendum 2011" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  178. ↑ "75% support same-sex marriage: poll". The Irish Times. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  179. ↑ "RED C – General Election Opinion Poll 7th November 2013" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2014.
  180. ↑ "Poll finds strong support for same-sex marriage". RTE. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  181. ↑ "Support for same-sex marriage increasing, poll finds". The Irish Times. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  182. ↑ "Special Eurobarometer 437" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2015.
  183. ↑ Religion and society Archived 18 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Pew Research Center, 29 May 2018
  184. ↑ Being Christian in Western Europe Archived 25 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Pew Research Center, 29 May 2018
  185. ↑ Eastern and Western Europeans Differ on Importance of Religion, Views of Minorities, and Key Social Issues Archived 3 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Pew Research Center, 2017
  186. ↑ "Eurobarometer on Discrimination 2019: The social acceptance of LGBTI people in the EU". TNS. European Commission. p. 2. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  187. ↑ "Poll suggests drop in Govt parties support". RTÉ News. 25 April 2015. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  188. ↑ "Are we on course for a record referendum turnout?". RTÉ News. 17 April 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  189. 1 2 3 Collins, Stephen (27 March 2015). "Poll shows same-sex marriage referendum could be close". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  190. ↑ "Poll shows reservations on same-sex marriage remain". RTÉ. 25 January 2015. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  191. 1 2 "Opinion Poll" (PDF). Red C. 25 January 2015. pp. 11–13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  192. 1 2 O'Connell, Hugh (8 December 2014). "First poll finds large majority in favour of same sex marriage". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  193. 1 2 3 Quann, Jack (1 July 2014). "Ireland will hold same-sex marriage referendum in Spring 2015". Newstalk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  194. ↑ "Poll finds strong support for same-sex marriage". RTÉ. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  195. 1 2 3 4 "Same-Sex Marriage Poll" (PDF). Red C. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  196. ↑ Bohan, Christine (7 November 2013). "First poll finds large majority in favour of same sex marriage". Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  197. ↑ 58 per cent say they will vote for Irish same sex marriage 25 per cent oppose Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine Irish Central, 16 May 2015
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.