Ireland Commits To 2014 Marriage Vote

Speaking yesterday at an LGBT event held at Google's Dublin headquarters, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore committed to a 2014 national referendum on same-sex marriage.

The Government's own constitutional think-thank voted overwhelmingly in favour of gay marriage earlier this year, pushing it up the political agenda. The Constitutional Convention is due to send its report on gay marriage to the Government soon, and ministers have four months to decide their response to it. The Coalition is likely to agree to a referendum on gay marriage, and Mr Gilmore now says it will happen next year. Coalition sources said the referendum was likely to be held alongside votes on other issues recommended by the Constitutional Convention, such as decreasing the voting age to 16.

At the Constitutional Convention mentioned above, 79% voted in favor of a national referendum on marriage. (Tipped by JMG reader Gerard)