Speech by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D. on the Marriage Equality Referendum

Today Ireland made history.

The first country in the world to vote for equal marriage. I welcome that and thank all those who voted yesterday. In the privacy of the ballot box they made a public statement.

With today’s Yes vote we have disclosed who we are – a generous, compassionate, bold and joyful people.

Yes to inclusion.
Yes to generosity.
Yes to love, and
Yes to equal marriage.

I know that for tens of thousands of couples and their families, the past 24 hours were almost a vigil at the end of a long journey. Would their fragile and deeply personal hopes be realised?

Would a majority of people, in this our Republic, stand with them and stand up for them so that they can live in our shelter and no longer in our shadow?

That having come out to us we could now come out for them – and do it with a single word, a solitary syllable – Yes – marked with an X.

Today they have their answer. The people have answered the call of families and friends, of neighbours and new acquaintances.

Of Jack O’Rourke and Edel Tierney, Finian Curran and Allie Kershaw and Jerry, Leo, Pat and so many others. It was their stories and their voices that inspired the hearts and minds of the Irish people.

Our people have truly answered Ireland’s Call.

The referendum was about inclusiveness and equality, about love and commitment being enshrined in the constitution. For a significant proportion who voted against the amendment it was because of genuinely held views which are to be respected.

The decision makes every citizen equal and will strengthen the institution of marriage for all existing and future marriages. All people now have an equal future to look forward to.

So – the people went to the polls.
It passed.

The answer is YES.
Yes to their future.
Yes to their love.
Yes to their equal marriage.

That yes is heard loudly across the living world as a sound of pioneering leadership of our people and hopefully across the generations of gay men and women born as we say, before their time.

The people have spoken.

They have said yes.

Ireland – thank you.