Doctors, Midwives, Nurses, Pharmacists & others call for Yes vote as beneficial to health and well-being

5 May 2015

Doctors, Midwives, Nurses, Pharmacists & others call for Yes vote as beneficial to health and well-being

YES EQUALITY: THE CAMPAIGN FOR CIVIL MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Press Release, Tuesday 5 May 2015

Yes Equality, the Campaign for Civil Marriage Equality has today (Tuesday 5 May 2015) welcomed the clear and unambiguous endorsement by a diverse array of disciplines in the medical profession of a Yes vote in the 22 May marriage equality referendum.

Today’s endorsement came at an event attended by Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, Minister of State for Equality Aodhan O Riordain, and a range of bodies representing professionals working in healthcare and medicine. Organisations endorsing a Yes vote included The Irish College of General Practitioners, the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation and the IMPACT trade union. Their endorsement comes on foot of recent calls for a Yes vote from both the Irish Association of Social Workers and the Psychological Society of Ireland.

Today’s event also saw the formation of a new group, Doctors for Marriage Equality, which represents doctors from a wide range of specialities supporting a Yes vote as in the interests of public health and well-being. Over 300 doctors have signed up to their Charter for Yes, available to read at www.yesequality.ie/doctors/.

Speaking today, Yes Equality spokesperson Grainne Healy said:

“We welcome today’s unequivocal support for a Yes vote expressed today by Irish medical and healthcare professions. A yes vote will enshrine equality for our lesbian and gay citizens in our fundamental law. The effect of legal equality goes beyond the letter of the law. It enters our daily lives and our interactions with others. A society that encourages people to be themselves, to embrace their sexual orientation, is a society that improves the well-being and health of its citizens. In this context a Yes vote can make a contribution to improving the health and well-being of all of our citizens”

ENDS

NOTES
– Today’s event took place in No.6 Kildare Street at 3.30pm. It was attended by Minister for Health Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for Equality Aodhan O Riordain, and representatives of the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation and IMPACT. Also attending was the Doctors for Marriage Equality group which represents doctors from a wide range of specialities supporting a Yes on 22 May. See www.yesequality.ie/doctors/.