Gay rights will give a boost to our economy

AS a young Irish person living in Canada, I was delighted to read the highly progressive comments made by the Taoiseach and endorsed by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on the advancement of gay rights in Ireland.

Without broaching the understandably contentious issue of gay marriage, it is at least comforting to know that the legal rights of all cohabitating, co-dependent individuals - gay or otherwise - stand to be better protected by the state under Mr Ahern’s leadership.

Not only does Canada serve as a sterling example of the benefits associated with more tolerant policies, recent research in the US has also proven that a tangible link exists between such values and economic prosperity.