Equal marriage moves a step closer in Ireland

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http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/03/31/equal-marriage-moves-a-step-closer-in-ireland/

Members of Fine Gael, a centrist party in the Republic of Ireland, have voted at the party’s Árd Fheis to prioritise the consideration of equal marriages in the country at the forthcoming Constitutional Convention.

According to reports in the Irish media, FG members have approved motions proposed by several branches of the party in Dublin, calling on the government to “ensure that the Constitutional Convention prioritises an analysis of the proposals for same-sex marriage in Ireland.” Among the speakers in favour of the motion were justice minister Alan Shatter and TD for Dublin South-Central, Catherine Byrne.

This is not to say that the call is an official party policy, but it does mean that FG is in favour of reviewing the current legal position, which outlaws civil marriage between two people of the same sex. With Labour and Fianna Fáil already in favour of marriage equality, all of the parties in Ireland are now prepared to look at the law with a view to revision.

So, the Constitution Convention is now likely to make the issue its top priority, which will now have the decision as to whether to allow a referendum on equal marriage.