Marriage Bill 2015 to be enacted by the end of July – Minister Fitzgerald

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, has today announced her intention to have the Marriage Bill 2015 enacted by the end of July.

The Minister stated: ‘The Irish people have chosen decisively to extend the right to marry to same-sex couples. I am particularly proud that the right to marriage equality will now be enshrined in our Constitution as a result of a popular vote. I would like to compliment all of those who voted and who campaigned on both sides for what was a passionate and yet civilised referendum campaign.’

The Minister continued: ‘I am very conscious that many couples will want to get married as soon as possible. I am working to make that happen.”

The Marriage Bill, which is currently being drafted, will enable same-sex couples to get married in the same way as opposite-sex couples. My intention is to seek Government approval for the Marriage Bill 2015 in June with the aim of introducing the Bill into the Oireachtas immediately thereafter so that the legislation can be enacted before the summer recess.’

The Minister confirmed that the Marriage Bill 2015 will include a provision to enable couples to convert a notification of intention to enter a civil partnership into a notification of intention to enter a marriage.

The Minister stated: “This means that couples who have already registered their intention to enter a civil partnership will be instead able to get married once the law is enacted on the basis of the same registration of intent.”