Coalition got this right - Marriage equality

MORE bells than usual — chiming marriage bells — will be ringing across the country at Christmas after yesterday’s passing of all stages of the Marriage Bill 2015 in the Seanad and will be signed into law when president Michael D Higgins returns from America. 

As Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald quipped: “Today is a joyous day,” especially for those who thought they would never be allowed to marry in this State.

However, as the history books will tell, Ireland set an international precedent when a majority of the people voted by referendum on May 22 to include the principle of same-sex marriage to the Constitution.

Having been viewed as a nation dominated by the Catholic Church, Ireland became known as one of the most progressive nations on the planet, sending out a clear and loud message that, as the minister put it, homophobia is not acceptable here, adding that we should all take a moment today to celebrate the heroism of the LGBT community.

The Coalition often gets it wrong but on same sex marriage it was visionary and got it absolutely right.