Allow gay cousins to marry each other, says David Norris

Senator David Norris has said gay cousins should be allowed to marry each other following the outcome of the marriage equality referendum.

The senator made the suggestion in the Seanad last night in a debate on same-sex marriage legislation.

“It would not take a feather out of me if two cousins married each other. What is the problem with that?” he said.

Mr Norris said the regulations prohibiting marriage between cousins were introduced to protect the genetic pool but since gay couples cannot reproduce, these regulations should not apply to them.

He also said that he expected to be pilloried by “the grotesque Irish media” for making such a suggestion.