Changes to gay marriage proposals ‘deeply opportunistic’, says Labour

LABOUR last night branded Government moves to block its civil union proposals “shameful” as the Dáil debated same sex marriage for the first time.

The party’s Justice spokesman Brendan Howlin attacked Tánaiste Michael McDowell’s amendments to Labour’s landmark Bill as “deeply opportunistic”.

Mr Howlin said it was a clear issue of equal rights to allow civil unions between gay and lesbian couples to be recognised by the State.