Norris & Bacik table Seanad motion on gay and lesbian marriage

28 Feb 2008

Independent Senators Ivana Bacik and David Norris yesterday afternoon tabled a motion in Seanad Eireann expressly calling on the Government to introduce civil marriage for gay and lesbian people.

The text of the motion, moved by Senator Norris, reads as follows:

"That Seanad Éireann, acting upon the principles enunciated on behalf of the then Fíanna Fail/Labour Coalition Government in 1993 during the debate surrounding the decriminalisation of male homosexuality, in which the then Minister for Justice indicated that clear factual and cogent arguments rather than prejudice would be required to support discrimination in law against any Irish citizen, and in the light of the reports of various think tanks and Commissions but most particularly the Colley Report, urges the Government at last to introduce full equality under the law for gay citizens of Ireland including access to civil marriage."

The full debate, including the contents of Senator Norris' and Senator Bacik's contributions, as well as that of Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan, can be read here.

While the Norris motion was defeated and a Government amendement carried by 26 votes to 22, MarriagEquality believes this was an important and significant milestone in moving the debate about civil marriage for gay and lesbian people forward.