IRELAND: Deputy PM Endorses Marriage

Ireland's deputy prime minister has become the nation's highest-ranked politician to endorse marriage equality. He made his announcement yesterday at Dublin Pride.

The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said the time has come for a move on gay marriage in Ireland. Speaking as the Dublin Gay Pride festival takes place, Eamon Gilmore said the issue of same-sex marriage was to be included for consideration by the Constitutional Convention. Deputy Gilmore said he believed in gay marriage and that the right of gay couples to marry was "the civil rights issue of this generation". He also said that if the Labour party is serious about building a new progressive society, it must resolve the issue of gay marriage.

Ireland's marriage equality activists react:

"As the most senior member of Government to declare marriage equality an important issue, the Tánaiste's full public support marks an historic point in our campaign for equality. But we have a lot of work ahead of us. The Government will soon be launching its Constitutional Convention, to look at, amongst other issues, the provision of same-sex marriage. "We look forward to having the full support of the Tánaiste as we work with the Constitutional Convention to protect same sex couples and families, and to ensure that they are treated equally under the law by enshrining marriage equality in the Irish Constitution."

NOTE: Wikipedia fills us in on Gilmore's title: "Tánaiste was originally the Irish word for the heir of the chief (taoiseach) or king (rí), under the Gaelic system of tanistry."

VIDEO: The Labour Party float passes by with Gilmore.

(Tipped by JMG reader Kirsten)