Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland

Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland has been legal since 16 November 2015.[1] A referendum on 22 May 2015 amended the Constitution of Ireland to provide that marriage is recognised irrespective of the sex of the partners.[2] The measure was signed into law by the President of Ireland as the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland on 29 August 2015.[3] The Marriage Act 2015, passed by the Oireachtas on 22 October 2015 and signed into law by the Presidential Commission on 29 October 2015, gave legislative effect to the amendment.[4][5][6] Marriages of same-sex couples in Ireland began being recognised from 16 November 2015,[7] and the first marriage ceremonies of same-sex couples in Ireland occurred the following day.[8]

Civil partnerships, granted under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, gave same-sex couples rights and responsibilities similar, but not equal, to those of civil marriage.[9]

The 2011 Irish census revealed 143,600 cohabiting couples, up from 77,000 in 2002. This included 4,042 in same-sex relationships, up from 1,300.[10]

Background

Law Reform Commission (2000–06)

In December 2000, as part of the Second Programme of Law Reform, the Government requested the Law Reform Commission of Ireland to examine the rights and duties of cohabitees. In April 2004, the commission published a consultation paper with provisional recommendations on legal issues related to cohabiting relationships.[11][12][13] The report included an analysis of issues for same-sex couples. Following responses, the final report was launched in December 2006 by Justice Minister Michael McDowell.[14][15]

The consultation proposals called for legal 'presumed' recognition of qualifying cohabiting relationships. Qualifying cohabitees were defined as unmarried same-sex or opposite-sex cohabiting couples in a 'marriage-like' relationships of 2 years (or 3 years in some cases), to be determined by the courts.

The commission reviewed such areas as property, succession, maintenance, pensions, social welfare and tax and recommended some changes in the law to provide rights for qualifying cohabitees. These rights would be applied by the court on application as distinct from the 'automatic' rights of legal marriage. The commission took care not to propose anything which would equate co-habitation with marriage due to concerns that such a proposal might violate the constitutional protection of the family.

The paper also included recommendations on other steps that cohabiting couples should take such writing wills, defining power of attorney, etc.

Constitutional review (2004–06)

The all-party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution,[16] re-established in December 2002, was conducting a review of the entire Constitution. In October 2004, it invited submissions on the Articles related to the family.[17] Chairman Denis O'Donovan stated that it was examining these Articles to ascertain the extent to which they are serving the good of individuals and the community, with a view to deciding whether changes in them would bring about a greater balance between the two. Among the many issues raised by the committee were the definition of the family and the rights of same-sex couples to marry.

The relevant provisions are Articles 40.3, 41 and 42

Article 41

1° The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of marriage, on which the family is founded, and to protect it against attack.

The committee held oral hearings in spring 2005 and received an unexpectedly large volume of written submissions with at least 60% being opposed to any constitutional changes to marriage or the family,[18][19] including from members of Pro Life Campaign, Family Solidarity and Mother and Child Campaign.[20] The final report,[21] the Tenth interim report of the committee, was launched by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on 24 January 2006.[22] It recommended no change to the constitutional definitions, as it expected such a referendum to fail. It suggested that there should instead be legislation for a civil partnership registration open to same-sex or opposite-sex couples which would confer succession, maintenance and taxation rights. Controversially, it also recommended that the 'presumed' recognition of cohabiting partners by the courts, as recommended by the Law Reform Commission, should also be legislated for, but only for opposite-sex couples. The basis for the limitation was that it would be easy for the courts to determine the validity of an opposite-sex relationship if there were children.

Colley Report (2005–06)

On 20 December 2005, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell announced that he was creating a working group in the Department of Justice to provide options for government consideration.[23] This announcement came on the day after Belfast in Northern Ireland held the first of the new UK civil partnership registration ceremonies. The Government said that it would legislate following the report, but Taoiseach Bertie Ahern also said there might not be time to do so before the then upcoming election.

Chaired by former TD Anne Colley, this working group included GLEN, the gay rights lobby organisation, who said they expected a recommendation for civil marriage. The group facilitated a conference on the topic in May 2006, as input to its reports which was attended by experts from other countries which have introduced civil unions and same-sex marriage. During his speech, McDowell was interrupted by members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians opposed to the government plans.[24]

Initially to report by March 2006,[25] the group presented its report to the Government in November 2006.[26] They recommended that a civil partnership scheme would resolve most of the issues for same-sex and cohabiting couples, while providing less benefits than marriage. Offering civil marriage to same-sex couples would be open to constitutional challenge. They also recommended a legal presumption of partnership for couples which have lived together for three years, or have children together. No recommendations were made for couples in non-conjugal relationships due to lack of research. The cabinet reviewed the report, but no legislation was introduced before the 2007 general election, and in the intervening period the Government rejected opposition legislation, saying that legislation should await the Supreme Court appeal in Zappone v. Revenue Commissioners.

Other statutory bodies and NGOs

"MarriagEquality" supporting same-sex marriage in Ireland at a demonstration in Dublin.

Since 2002, various statutory bodies have issued reports calling for recognition of homosexual and de facto heterosexual relationships.

Equality Authority: In January 2001, the authority produced a report on same-sex partnerships in Ireland,[27] which it had commissioned to inform its own debate. In May 2002, the Equality Authority issued its formal report on equality for lesbians, gays and bisexuals,[28] which highlighted the lack of recognition for same-sex couples in Irish law. In a departure from the norm, the report recommended legislative changes. These were to give legal recognition to same-sex couples, to provide equality with married couples in the areas of adoption, inheritance and taxation to eliminate discrimination.

NESF: In April 2003, the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) published Report 27.[29] The implementation of equality policies for gay, lesbian and bisexual people. The recommendations included calls for the Law Reform Commission to consider models to achieve equal rights for same-sex couples in its then upcoming report.

Human Rights Commission: In a report on de facto couples presented to the Justice Minister in May 2006,[30] the Irish Human Rights Commission evaluated international standards in dealing with unmarried couples, and assessed the changes needed in Irish law from a human rights perspective.[31] The Commission called for legal recognition of all de facto relationships, but did not call for civil marriage to be made available to same-sex couples. The IHRC also released a report on the civil partnership scheme in January 2009.[32]

Irish Council for Civil Liberties: Legal recognition of partnership rights and addressing inequalities in family law were a strategic objective of the ICCL for 2004–2009.[33] In a December 2004 submission, they welcomed the Law Reform proposals,[34] but said that registered unions were necessary. In a 2005 radio interview, the partnerships officer said that full civil marriage would not be likely to succeed in a referendum. However, their May 2006 report on the issue, "Equality for All Families" launched by ICCL founder Kader Asmal,[35] called for legislated partnership registration and revisions to the constitutional provisions on civil marriage and the family, to give improved protection to children. This revision, which might require a referendum, should include a right to marry irrespective of sexual orientation.[36]

Civil partnership

Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in Europe¹

  Marriage

  Civil union

  Limited domestic recognition (cohabitation)

  Limited foreign recognition (residency rights)

  Unrecognized

  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples

¹ May include recent laws or court decisions that have not yet entered into effect.

---

Civil partnerships, introduced by the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (Irish: An tAcht um Páirtnéireacht Shibhialta agus um Chearta agus Oibleagáidí Áirithe de chuid Comhchónaitheoirí 2010), gave same-sex couples rights and responsibilities similar, but not equal to, those of civil marriage.[9] The ability to enter into a civil partnership ended on 16 November 2015.[37] Constitutional protections granted to spouses, such as the spouse of a witness not being compelled to give evidence against their spouse in most cases, is one example of protections granted under civil partnerships. Spouses may further claim privilege in so far as necessary to protect the constitutional right to marital privacy. No such constitutional protections existed for civil partnerships. Further inequalities in relation to the family, immigration and other types of Irish law existed.[38] The legislation also provided rights for participants in long-term cohabiting relationships (opposite- or same-sex) who had not entered into a civil partnership or marriage. The following entry focuses primarily on the same-sex civil partnership aspect of the Act, as opposed to the cohabitation aspect.

The Civil Partnership Act came into effect on 1 January 2011.[39] It had been expected that the first ceremonies would not take place until April 2011 due to a three-month waiting period required by law for all civil ceremonies.[40] However, the legislation provided a mechanism for exemptions to be sought through the courts, and the first partnership, which was between two men, was registered on 7 February 2011.[41] While this ceremony was carried out publicly in the Civil Registration Office in Dublin,[42] the mainstream media were not present.

It was not until 5 April 2011, the date originally anticipated as the date for the first ceremonies, that the media covered a civil partnership.[43] This partnership ceremony, which was between Hugh Walsh and Barry Dignam, also took place in Dublin

Tax codes were amended in July 2011 under the Finance (No. 3) Act 2011 (Irish: An tAcht Airgeadais (Uimh. 3), 2011) to take account of civil partnerships. The Act, in the main, is retrospective to 1 January 2011 and it creates virtual parity, in taxation matters, between civil partners on the one hand and married people on the other hand. The Social Welfare Code had already been amended in December 2010 to take account of civil partnerships.

Registration of civil partnerships discontinued on the day same-sex marriage legislation came into effect in November 2015, though existing civil partners are permitted to retain their relationship status, as there is no automatic conversion from a civil partnership to marriage.[44]

Recognition of foreign partnerships

Certain foreign partnerships and same-sex marriages have been recognised as civil partnerships since 13 January 2011. While Glenn Cunningham and Adriano Vilar are often cited as the first same-sex couple to have their civil partnership formally recognised in Ireland, in fact several hundred couples were recognised together at the exactly the same time. The couple formed a civil partnership at a ceremony in Northern Ireland in 2010.[45]

Section 5 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 states the criteria used to govern which classes of relationships can be recognised. They are:[46]

• the relationship is exclusive in nature
• the relationship is permanent unless the parties dissolve it through the courts
• the relationship has been registered under the law of that jurisdiction, and
• the rights and obligations attendant on the relationship are, in the opinion of the Minister, sufficient to indicate that the relationship would be treated comparably to a civil partnership.

The recognition is formally authorised by a statutory instrument, four of which in been passed: in 2010, listing 33 relationship types in 27 jurisdictions;[47] in 2011, adding 6 relationships;[48] in 2012, adding 4;[49] and in 2013, adding 14.[50]

The French PACS is not included, nor are some other legal relationships – for example, the Dutch civil partnership and some of the domestic partnerships in the United States.[51] The reason is that these kinds of relationships can be dissolved by agreement between the parties (that is by both parties signing a document with a lawyer), not through the courts.

Legal position before civil partnerships

In March 2004, there was controversy in the Dáil surrounding a definition of 'spouse' when it was claimed that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan, was seeking to exclude non-married partners from social welfare legislation.[52][53] The exclusion was a government response to a finding by the Equality Tribunal that a same-sex couple was discriminated against in travel privileges.

The Civil Registration Act 2004 included a prohibition of same-sex marriage. The act explicitly declared that there was an "impediment to a marriage" if "both parties are of the same sex".[54]

In December 2006, the High Court held in Zappone v. Revenue Commissioners that marriage as defined in the Irish Constitution was between a man and a woman and that there was no breach of rights in the refusal of the Revenue Commissioners to recognise foreign same-sex marriages.

Norris bill (2004)

In December 2004, Independent Senator David Norris, who had been central to the 1970s and 1980s Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform and had been successful in the European Court of Human Rights in Norris v. Ireland, tabled a private member's bill on civil partnerships in the Seanad. The bill provided for the recognition of unmarried partnerships,[55] both same-sex and opposite-sex cohabiting couples. It defined eligibility for a civil partnership and the process of registering a civil partnership. Rather than listing all the rights of a civil partner, it specified that all the rights of marriage would apply to anyone in a civil partnership. However, it specifically defined the dissolution process and the process for recognising foreign civil partnerships.

Norris said the bill was initiated "to protect the rights of adults who find themselves in relationships outside the conventional bonds of marriage" and "to meet the requirements of those who are making arrangements in their personal lives outside the formalities of marriage" and who also "need to be supported in the creation of mature stable relationships". Norris said he had done substantial research in order to achieve consensus on a moderate bill which took on board stated reservations.

The debate, including contributions from Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell, took place on 16 February 2005.[56] The majority of speakers supported the principles behind the bill and complimented Senator Norris on his work. Some expressed reservations due to the constitutional protection of the family.

A government amendment designed to postpone a vote attracted much acrimony. This postponement was to allow for input from then ongoing investigations: the Law Reform Commission, the High Court case Zappone v. Revenue Commissioners on the recognition of a Canadian marriage and the Constitutional Review Committee. Eventually, it was agreed to debate the bill but adjourn a vote indefinitely.

Labour Party bills (2006, 2007)

In December 2006, on the same day as the High Court judgment in Zappone, Brendan Howlin, an opposition Labour Party TD tabled a private member's civil unions bill in Dáil Éireann.[57][58]

Similar to the Norris bill in its provisions, this bill defined a civil union as providing all the rights and duties as defined for marriage, but specifically limited civil unions to same-sex couples.[59] It also provided for adoption by couples in such unions.

The debate,[60] again including contributions from Justice Minister Michael McDowell, took place in February 2007. All speakers supported civil unions for same-sex couples and complimented Deputy Howlin on the bill. One expressed reservations about adoption. Minister McDowell claimed that the bill violated the constitutional provisions on marriage and the family. Government speakers said that civil unions needed to be introduced but that more time was needed to take account of the ongoing Supreme Court case and investigation work in the Department of Justice.[61]

The Government amended the bill to delay debate for six months. As expected, the bill then fell when the Dáil was dissolved in the intervening period for the 2007 general election. Deputy Howlin said that the real reason for the delay was that the Government did not want to enact this type of social legislation in the face of an election.[62]

Labour again brought their bill before the new house on 31 October 2007 but the Government again voted the bill down. The Green Party, now in government also voted in opposition to the bill, with spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe arguing that the bill was unconstitutional but without giving a reasoning. The Government committed itself to introducing its own bill for registered civil partnerships by 31 March 2008,[63] a date it would fail to meet.

Government legislation (2008–10)

The Green Party entered government with Fianna Fáil in 2007, and a commitment to legislation introducing civil partnerships was agreed in the Programme for Government in June of that year. On 24 June 2008, the Government announced the publication of a civil partnership bill.[64][65]

In response to the legislation, Government Senator Jim Walsh put forward a party motion to counter the bill.[65][66] The Irish Times reported that around 30 unidentified backbenchers had signed the motion.[67] One anonymous senator was quoted as claiming that the motion "would have considerable support from the more conservative sections of the parliamentary party".[66] Taoiseach Brian Cowen responded by insisting that the registration of same-sex couples would not interfere with the constitutional status of marriage. Cowen noted that the bill had been drawn up in close consultation with the Attorney General and had been included in the Programme for Government.[68] The motion was referred to the parliamentary party's justice committee on 1 July 2008. A Fianna Fáil spokesperson was quoted as saying that there was "broad support" within the party for the legislation, while the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Dermot Ahern reaffirmed the constitutional compatibility of the law.[69]

The announcement of the Heads was denounced as inadequate by the opposition parties Labour and Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh commented that "the Government must do better".[70][71]

The civil partnership bill was introduced on 26 June 2009.[72][73] Dermot Ahern, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, introduced the bill's second stage on 3 December 2009. He said that consequent modifications to the finance and social welfare provisions would come into effect when the bill was passed.[74] There was further second stage debate on the bill on 21 January 2010.[75][76] The second stage finished on 27 January 2010. The committee stage of the bill was completed on 27 May 2010.[77] The bill was passed in the final stage by the Dáil without a vote on 1 July 2010.[78] The bill was passed in the final stage in the Seanad by a vote of 48–4, on 8 July 2010 and was signed by President Mary McAleese on 19 July 2010.[79] The Minister for Justice and Law Reform Dermot Ahern said: "This is one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation to be enacted since independence. Its legislative advance has seen an unprecedented degree of unity and support within both Houses of the Oireachtas."[80]

The Minister for Justice signed a commencement order for the Act on 23 December 2010. The Act came into force on 1 January 2011.[39] The date of commencement of the Act was dependent on further legislation in the areas of taxation and social welfare, which was enacted separately. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 was passed by the Dáil on 14 December and the Seanad on 17 December 2010.[40][81]

Statistics

2,071 civil partnerships were registered in Ireland between 2011 and 2015. 1,298 of them had been between men and 773 had been between women.[82][83][84][85][86]

Number of civil partnerships registered in Ireland, 2011-15[82][83][84][85][86]

Year	Female	Male	Total
2011	201	335	536
2012	166	263	429
2013	130	208	338
2014	150	242	392
2015	126	250	376

End of civil partnerships

Following Ireland's legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2015 (see below), the ability to enter into a civil partnership was closed off. As of 16 November 2015, no further civil partnerships are granted in Ireland and existing civil partners only retain that status if they do not marry. Any civil partnership converted into a marriage is dissolved.[37]

Marriage

Legal case

In November 2004, Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan were granted leave by the Ireland's High Court to pursue a claim to have their September 2003 Vancouver marriage recognised for the filing of joint tax returns in Ireland.[87] The case was heard in October 2006.[88] The judgment was delivered in December 2006 and found that the Irish Constitution had always meant for marriage to be between a man and a woman.[89][90]

The case was appealed to the Supreme Court in February 2007.[91] It came before the Supreme Court in 2012,[92] although returned to the High Court to challenge different elements of law, specifically the Civil Registration Act of 2004 and Civil Partnership Act of 2010.[93]

Preparation for the referendum

The Coalition Government, which took office in March 2011, convened a Constitutional Convention to discuss proposed amendments to the Constitution of Ireland, including plans to introduce same-sex marriage.[94] On 10 July 2012, the Dáil referred the issue of whether to make provision for same-sex marriage to the Constitutional Convention, to report back in a year. On 14 April 2013, the convention approved provisions allowing for same-sex marriage, to be discussed by the Oireachtas and be put to a public referendum.[95][96] On 2 July 2013, the Constitutional Convention delivered the formal report to the Oireachtas, which had four months to respond.[97]

On 5 November 2013, it was announced that a referendum to legalise same-sex marriage would be held in the first half of 2015.[98] On 1 July 2014, Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced that the same-sex marriage referendum would take place in spring 2015.[99] The referendum was held on 22 May 2015.[100]

With the signing into law of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (Irish: An tAcht um Leanaí agus Cóngais Teaghlaigh, 2015) on 6 April 2015, same-sex couples have the ability to adopt stepchildren, as well as being able to obtain parental recognition in assisted reproduction methods.[101][102] On 18 January 2016, key provisions of the law (including spouses, stepparents, civil partners and cohabiting partners being able to apply to become guardians of a child or for custody) went into effect, following the signing of a commencement order by the Minister for Justice and Equality.[103] Portions of the Act allowing for joint adoption, which never went into effect as no commencement order was signed, were repealed in 2017 after passage of the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017, which legalised joint adoption by same-sex couples.[104]

Marriage Equality referendum

How the Irish electorate voted, by constituency.

  72.5%–75%

  70%–72.49%

  67.5%–69.99%

  65%–67.49%

  62.5%–64.99%

  60%–62.49%

  57.5%–59.99%

  55%–57.49%

  52.5%–54.99%

  50%–52.49%

  48.58%

Street art by Niall O'Loughlin in Dublin encouraging people to vote yes

The amendment to the Constitution was moved on 21 January 2015.[105] The referendum proposed to add the following text to Article 41 of the Constitution:[106]

• Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.[lower-alpha 1]

In March 2015, the Department of Justice and Equality published the general scheme of a new marriage bill. The bill set out the changes to be made to legislation if the proposed amendment was approved. These changes included removing the legislative bar on same-sex couples marrying (though the wording of the amendment is self-executing and designed to invalidate it irrespective of legislative delay),[108] addressing the situation of civil partnerships, and updating terminology of existing legislation to reflect the new provision.[109][110]

The Marriage Equality referendum was held on 22 May 2015. With votes from all 43 constituencies counted, the 62.07% "yes" vote assured the passage of the referendum.[111] In the aftermath of the result, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald stated that legislation would be brought through the Oireachtas by summer (i.e.: sometime in June or July 2015) to make same-sex marriage a reality.[112] However, an unsuccessful legal challenge contesting the validity of the referendum delayed the legislation from going to Cabinet and the Oireachtas.[113]

Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,201,607	62.07
No	734,300	37.93
Valid votes	1,935,907	99.29
Invalid or blank votes	13,818	0.71
Total votes	1,949,725	100.00
Registered voters and turnout	3,221,681	60.52

Marriage Act 2015

On 16 September 2015, following the High Court's rejection of the legal challenge contesting the validity of the referendum result,[114] Fitzgerald brought a same-sex marriage bill before cabinet. A spokesperson for the minister's department stated that "the aim is to have the bill enacted as quickly as possible, subject to the legislative process, so that the first same-sex marriages can take place this year."[115] Under the legislation, the first same-sex marriages would be those of couples who convert a notification of their intention to register a civil partnership into a notification of their intention to marry. The bill passed all stages of the legislative process in the Oireachtas on 22 October 2015.[5] On 29 October 2015, the bill was signed into law by Presidential Commission, thus becoming the Marriage Act 2015 (Irish: An tAcht um Pósadh, 2015).[6]

Commencement

Though most same-sex couples seeking to marry are required to give three months notice (as is the case for opposite-sex couples), same-sex couples already in a civil partnership are allowed to make use of a 5-day fast track provision in the legislation.[116]

As of 16 November 2015, same-sex couples who married abroad have their marriages recognised in Ireland.[37] The first marriage ceremonies of same-sex couples occurred the following day, on 17 November 2015.[8][117]

Subsequent changes

On 5 May 2016, James Reilly, then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, announced that the Irish Government had approved the publication of a new adoption bill.[118] The bill would amend the Adoption Act 2010 and the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 and give legislative effect to the Thirty-first Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland (the children referendum). The purposes of the bill are to allow children to be adopted by their foster carers, where they have cared for the child for at least 18 months, and to allow two people regardless of marital status to adopt children, thus granting married same-sex couples the right to adopt. The bill also allows for the adoption of a child by civil partners and cohabiting couples and gives children a greater say in the adoption process, among many other reforms to the adoption system.[119][120][121] The bill passed the Dáil on 30 November 2016,[122][123] and received approval by the Seanad on 13 June 2017. The bill was signed into law by President Michael D. Higgins on 19 July 2017, becoming the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017 (Irish: An tAcht Uchtála (Leasú), 2017).[124] The commencement order was signed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, on 18 October and the law went into effect the following day.[125][126]

In January 2019, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, announced that the Government had published a bill that would amend the Civil Registration Act 2004 to allow lesbian couples who have had donor-assisted children to be automatically registered as their parents. Under the changes, parents may choose the labels "mother" and "father" or instead the term "parents", meaning that the non-biological mother would be able to legally register as a co-parent. Previously, only the biological mother could be named on the child's birth certificate. It passed the Daíl in March 2019, and the Seanad in May 2019. The Civil Registration Act 2019 (Irish: An tAcht um Chlárú Sibhialta, 2019) was signed into law by President Michael D. Higgins on 23 May 2019, which is the fourth anniversary of the same-sex marriage referendum. It came into effect immediately.[127][128]

Statistics

91 same-sex marriages were performed between 16 November and 31 December 2015, 47 of them were between men and 44 were between women.[86][129]

A few days ahead of the anniversary of the Marriage Equality referendum on 22 May 2016, the Department of Social Protection released statistics on the number of same-sex marriages that had taken place since November 2015. A total of 412 same-sex marriages were performed in those six months,[130] distributed by county as follows: Dublin (213), Cork (43), Limerick (25), Wicklow (17), Galway (14), Donegal, Kildare and Wexford (all three at 11), Kerry (9), Louth (8), Kilkenny (7), Offaly (6), Meath and Waterford (both at 5), Cavan, Sligo and Tipperary (all three at 4), Laois and Mayo (both at 3), Longford, Roscommon and Westmeath (all three at 2), Carlow, Leitrim and Monaghan (all three at 1), and Clare (0).

1,082 same-sex couples wed in Ireland in the one year following the Marriage Act's entry into force, averaging 21 same-sex weddings a week. 450 of these marriages were performed in Dublin, 93 in Cork, 56 in Wicklow and 48 in Kildare. The counties with the fewest same-sex marriages were Longford with two, followed by three in Roscommon and five in Leitrim.[131]

1,056 same-sex marriages took place in 2016, the first full year when same-sex couples could get married. 606 of these were male unions and 450 were female.[132][133]

Number of same-sex marriages performed in Ireland[86][132][134][135][136]

Year	Female	Male	Total
2015	44	47	91
2016	450	606	1,056
2017	335	424	759
2018	292	372	664
2019	287	353	640

Public debate

Fianna Fáil poster in support of the Thirty-Fourth Amendment

Following the decriminalisation of "buggery" in 1993, gay rights was not a high-profile issue in Ireland. From 2001 however, Irish media increasingly covered international developments in the same-sex partnerships issue.[137][138][139][140] This has included coverage of reports on the issue, legal cases taken by Irish same-sex couples, surrogate parenthood,[141] adoption,[142] extra-legal same-sex unions, blessings and the foreign partnerships of Irish politicians.[143][144] There was extensive coverage of the 2005 introduction of civil partnerships by the British Government,[145] which applies to Northern Ireland.

Irish legislators began to comment publicly from 2003,[146] some tentatively suggesting legislation, and some referring to Catholic teachings.[147] Among the general public, reaction was favourable, with a 2005 online poll showing most respondents seeing some recognition as inevitable and acceptable.[148] More rigorous public polls taken during 2006 showed an increasing majority of the population, up to 80%,[149][150][151][152] supporting the introduction of some partnership rights for same-sex couples, with a slim majority favouring full marriage. The numbers in favour of adoption by same-sex couples were lower but less clear.

Some public and religious figures, including bishops in the Catholic Church,[153] and in the Church of Ireland also proposed legal recognition in 2004, but in a form different from marriage.[154]

At the 2002 general election, only the manifestos of the Green Party and the Labour Party explicitly referred to the rights of same-sex couples,[155] but from 2004 all political parties, including the then Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat Government, produced policies or made statements in favour of varying forms of recognition.[156][157][158][159] In 2004, Fine Gael was the first party to launch an explicit policy document supporting civil partnerships.

In the run-up to the 2007 general election, the manifestos of all parties supported civil unions for same-sex couples with Sinn Féin and the Green Party supporting full civil marriage.[160] All parties ran advertisements in GCN (Gay Community News) with commitments to same-sex couples. In 2012, Sinn Féin sought to provide opportunities to bring same-sex marriage to the fore by introducing motions of support at the city and county council level.[161]

Existing and new gay organisations such as GLEN, GLUE and Noise began specifically campaigning for recognition in 2006.

As of November 2013, all parties in the Dáil support same-sex marriage: the Labour Party,[162] the Green Party,[163] the Socialist Party,[164] Sinn Féin,[165] Fianna Fáil,[166][167] and Fine Gael.[168]

Polling

A survey carried out in 2008 showed that 84% of Irish people supported civil marriage or civil partnerships for same-sex couples, with 58% (up from 51%) supporting full marriage rights in registry offices. The number who believed same-sex couples should only be allowed to have civil partnerships fell in the same period, from 33% to 26%.[169]

A public survey in October 2008 revealed 62% of adults would vote "Yes" in a referendum to extend civil marriage to same-sex couples. A breakdown of the results showed that support was strongest among younger people and in urban areas. Women were more supportive at 68% compared to 56% of men. There was slightly less support for same-sex couples being given the right to adopt. A total of 58% of those under 50 believed same-sex couples should be able to adopt, falling to 33% among the over-50s. A total of 54% believed the definition of the family unit in the Irish Constitution should be changed to include same-sex families.[170]

A survey commissioned by MarriagEquality in February 2009 indicated that 62% of Irish people supported same-sex marriage and would vote in favour of it if a referendum were held.[171]

In September 2010, an Irish Times/Behaviour Attitudes survey of 1,006 people showed that 67% felt that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. This majority extended across all age groups, with the exception of the over-65s, while 66% of Catholics were in favour of same-sex marriage. Only 25% disagreed that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, opposition that was concentrated among older people and those in rural areas. In terms of same-sex adoption, 46% were in support and 38% opposed. However, a majority of women, 18- to 44-year-olds, and urban dwellers supported the idea. The survey also showed that 91% of people would not think less of someone who came out as homosexual, while 60% felt the recent civil partnership legislation was not an attack on marriage.[172]

A poll in March 2011 (by the Sunday Times/RED C) showed that 73% of people supported allowing same-sex marriage (with 53% "agreeing strongly" with the idea), while 60% felt that same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children.[173]

A poll in January 2012 (by RED C for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) showed that 73% of voters supported the idea of same-sex marriages being recognised in the Irish Constitution.[174][175]

A late 2012 poll by Millward Brown Lansdowne showed that 75% would vote in favour of extending marriage to same-sex couples.[176]

A poll in November 2013 (by RED C for Paddy Power) showed that 76% of voters intended to support the introduction of same-sex marriage in any referendum, with 18% opposed and 6% undecided (with the undecideds excluded the ratio was 81% support, 19% against). Support was highest among women (85%), those under 44 (87%), Labour supporters (96%) and those living in Dublin and commuter counties (83%).[177]

A poll in February 2014 (by RED C for RTÉ's Prime Time and The Sunday Business Post) showed that 76% of voters would vote "Yes" to the introduction of same-sex marriage in any referendum.[178]

A poll in April 2014 by The Irish Times and Ipsos MRBI found that 67% would vote in favour of same-sex marriage and 21% against, with 12% undecided. When the undecided were excluded, 76% were in favour and 24% against.[179]

The 2015 Eurobarometer found that 80% of Irish people thought that same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, 15% were against.[180]

A Pew Research Center poll, conducted between April and August 2017 and published in May 2018, showed that 66% of Irish people supported same-sex marriage, 27% were opposed and 7% didn't know or refused to answer.[181] When divided by religion, 87% of religiously unaffiliated people, 80% of non-practicing Christians and 43% of church-attending Christians supported same-sex marriage.[182] Opposition was 20% among 18-34-year-olds.[183]

The 2019 Eurobarometer found that 79% of Irish thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, 13% were against.[184]

Recent polls, tabulated

Opinion polls on issue of same-sex marriage or voting intention in marriage referendum

Date	Yes	No	Don't know [n 1]	Polling org.	Commissioned by	References
25 April 2015	72	20	8	Red C	Sunday Business Post	[185]
17 April 2015	77	14	9	Amárach Research	RTÉ - Claire Byrne Live	[186]
27 March 2015	74	26	N/A[n 2]	IPSOS/MRBI	The Irish Times	[187]
24 January 2015	77	22		Red C	Sunday Business Post	[188][189]
8 December 2014	71	17	12	IPSOS/MRBI	The Irish Times	[190]
October 2014	76	24	N/A[n 2]	IPSOS/MRBI	The Irish Times	[190]
April 2014	67	21	12	IPSOS/MRBI	The Irish Times	[191]
20 February 2014	76	19	5	Red C	Sunday Business Post / Prime Time	[192][193]
7 November 2013	76	18	6	Red C	Paddy Power	[193][194]
November 2012	53	30	17	IPSOS/MRBI	The Irish Times	[191]

Notes

1. Don't know, undecided, or refused to answer
2. Yes:No percentages excluding respondents refusing to answer or uncertain.

Support is strongest among younger voters.[193][191][187] Sinn Féin and Labour voters are somewhat more in favour than Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.[193][187] Among those intending to vote "Yes" in January 2015, 33/77 had "some reservations about same-sex marriage", and 29/77 had "some reservations about adoption by gay couples".[189] A poll conducted a week before the referendum by The Irish Times showed that women supported same-sex marriage more than men.[195]

See also

• LGBT rights in the Republic of Ireland
• LGBT history in Ireland
• Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe
• He never married

Notes

1. Irish: Féadfaidh beirt, gan beann ar a ngnéas, conradh pósta a dhéanamh de réir dlí.[107]

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External links

• Zappone & Anor -v- Revenue Commissioners & Ors [2006] IEHC 404 (14 December 2006)
• "Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010". Bills 1997–2009. Dublin: Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
• "Recognition of Relationships: Major Policy Developments". Ireland: Gay and Lesbian Equality Network. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010.
• lgbtNOISE | Gay Civil Marriage Now!
• MarriagEquality Campaign group for civil marriage for gay and lesbian people
• Support group for Irish Pink Adoptions