By-Election Candidates

Dublin Central:

The Labour Party: Ivana Bacik - I support the principle of equality before the law for same-sex couples, and in particular I support the principle that same-sex couples, like opposite-sex couples, have the right to marry. In my capacity as a practising barrister, I am Junior Counsel for Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan in their case currently awaiting a hearing date before the Supreme Court, in which they are seeking legal recognition for their marriage contracted in Canada and also seeking a declaration that they have a right to marry in Ireland.

Independent candidate: Cllr Maureen O'Sullivan: Like Tony Gregory, I personally support the rights of any couples to choose to marry. It's simply a matter of equality and civil rights.

Fine Gael candidate: Senator Paschal Donohoe: I am sincerely and personally committed to civil partnership for same sex couples. I believe it is long overdue and I will be making constructive proposals around issues such as children and taxation that do not appear to be dealt with in the draft legislation. I do not think that civil partnership will be the end of discussion in relation to rights for same sex couples and I look forward to meeting with supporters of marriage equality to engage in further talk.

Dublin South:

The Labour Party: Senator Alex White: The rights of persons in a family characterised by marriage are immeasurably greater than those enjoyed by others. For as long as we have an exclusion on the rights of gay people to get married, there will remain at the heart of our constitutional system and our society a fundamental inequality. To establish true equality, we must extend the right to marry to gay persons. It is a question of political courage. It is not enough to state that we should shy away from it because of the likelihood of a potentially divisive and difficult public debate. That is not how legislators should behave. This is a time for courage.

Independent candidate: Ross O'Mullane: Personally I support marriage equality but my politics will be shaped democratically through a new system of representation in government where individuals use an internet based forum to debate all issues relating to their lives. If the issue is discussed and I am given a mandate I will push for marriage equality.

Green Party candidate: Elizabeth Davidson: As Green Party Spokesperson on Equality I have been lobbying for the rights of same-sex couples to have legal recognition. In the Green Party we believe in marriage equality and have reluctantly accepted the watered-down civil partnership legislation which will be brought out during this Dáil term as a first step towards true equality for gay and lesbian couples. We will also be pressing to have parenting and adoption issues addressed in subsequent amending legislation.