Marriage Equality welcomes introduction of crucial legislation that will clear the path for same-sex marriages

23 Sep 2015

Marriage Equality has warmly welcomed the introduction of the Marriage Bill 2015 into the Dáil by the Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald today, September 23^rd 2015.

Marriage Equality as an organisation has been working for over a decade to achieve civil marriage rights for same-sex couples in Ireland. Speaking outside the Dáil today, Chairwoman of Marriage Equality, Gráinne Healy said:

“The introduction of the Marriage Bill into the Dáil today is a welcome milestone in the long road towards full equality for same-sex couples in Ireland.

“We would now encourage our parliamentarians to ensure the swift passage of the legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas so that the resounding Yes vote delivered by the Irish people in last May’s Marriage Equality referendum becomes a reality as quickly as possible.

“This legislation clears the path for the first same-sex marriages to take place in Ireland, hopefully in a matter of weeks.”

Ms Healy also welcomed the fact that marriages between same-sex couples that have taken place in other countries will be recognised under the new Bill.

For Media Information please contact:

Cathy Madden / Sandra Ryan, PSG Plus
Cathy.madden@psgplus.ie / sandra.ryan@psgplus.ie
+353 86 605 02 69 / +353 83 4499119

NOTES

• Marriage Equality is a not for profit, single issue, national grassroots advocacy organisation whose goal is to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Ireland through the extension of civil marriage rights to same-sex couples.
• The organisation was one of three civil society groups that formed the Yes Equality campaign, which helped to achieve a majority Yes vote in last May’s Marriage Equality referendum