Same-sex Marriage

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 February 2013

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Questions (549)

Clare Daly

Question:

549. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to enable marriages between same sex couples. [8302/13]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I refer to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 521 of 12 February 2013 in which I indicated that legislation providing for same-sex marriage cannot be enacted without an amendment to the Constitution following a decision of the people in a referendum on the matter in accordance with Article 46 of the Constitution. In this regard the Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a Constitutional Convention to consider constitutional reform on a number of issues including provision for same-sex marriage.

I understand that the Constitutional Convention is expected to consider the issue of same-sex marriage in April.