Independent Katherine Zappone said the fundamental issue at stake was about the protection of a minoritys right to marry by opening a civil institution, to be protected and be able to become a constitutional family. Photographer: Dara Mac Dnaill \/The Irish Times <\/p>\n
Legislation to allow for a referendum on same sex marriage has been passed in the Seanad with a standing ovation by many of those supporting the Bill. <\/p>\n
The Thirty-Fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality Bill) was accepted by 29 votes to three in the Upper House after a week of sometimes heated debate. <\/p>\n
The legislation now goes to the President for signature, having been passed by the Dil without a vote. <\/p>\n
The Bill was passed as an opinion poll in The Irish Times showed a 6 per cent drop in support for the introduction of same sex marriage since December when the last poll was conducted. The referendum takes place on Friday, May 22nd. <\/p>\n
Support stands at 74 per cent compared to 80 per cent in the last poll. Support for a No vote has risen 6 per cent to 26 per cent, when undecided voters are accounted for. <\/p>\n
A number of amendments from Independent Ronn Mullen were rejected including that marriage equality should not have unintended consequences affecting what he called freedom of conscience issues. <\/p>\n
Mr Mullen said that as a general principle, it should always be immoral and unlawful to discriminate against a person on grounds of his or her sexual orientation. <\/p>\n
However, refusing to provide a service in circumstances which one perceives to link one with something with which one conscientiously disagrees is not the same thing. <\/p>\n
He highlighted the case of a bakery in Belfast which refused to provide a cake for a civil partnership and was being prosecuted by what he called the equality people in the North. <\/p>\n
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Read more: Independent Katherine Zappone said the fundamental issue at stake was about the protection of a minoritys right to marry by opening a civil institution, to be protected and be able to become a constitutional family. Continue reading
\nStanding ovation as Seanad passes same sex marriage Bill<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"