Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland

Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
22 May 2015 (2015-05-22)
To permit marriage to be contracted by two persons without distinction as to their sex
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 1,201,607 62.07%
No 734,300 37.93%
Valid votes 1,935,907 99.29%
Invalid or blank votes 13,818 0.71%
Total votes 1,949,725 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 3,221,681 60.52%
How the electorate voted, by constituency.
Proportion of the valid poll voting yes:
Source: Iris Oifigiúil[1]

The Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Act 2015 (previously bill no. 5 of 2015) amended the Constitution of Ireland to permit marriage to be contracted by two persons without distinction as to their sex.[2] Prior to the enactment, the Constitution was assumed to contain an implicit prohibition on same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland.[3] It was approved at a referendum on 22 May 2015 by 62% of voters on a turnout of 61%.[1][4] This was the first time that a state legalised same-sex marriage through a popular vote.[5][6] Two legal challenges regarding the conduct of the referendum were dismissed on 30 July by the Court of Appeal,[7] and the bill was signed into law by the President of Ireland on 29 August.[8] An amendment to the Marriage Act 2015 provided for marriages permitted by the new constitutional status. The act came into force on 16 November 2015; the first same-sex marriage ceremony was held on 17 November 2015.[9]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference irisoifigiuilresults was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Fitzgerald, Frances (10 March 2015). "Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage". Dáil Éireann debates. Retrieved 29 October 2015. The wording is intended to give a right to marry to couples without distinction as to their sex. If the wording is approved by the people, there would be a corresponding obligation and requirement on the State to respect and vindicate that right in its legislation. Therefore, it would not be open to the State to maintain in being legislation which prohibits the marriage of same-sex couples.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference dail2013112800060 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "National Summary Results". RTÉ. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  5. ^ Johnston, Chris (23 May 2015). "Ireland becomes first country to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote - live". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Huge Ireland vote for gay marriage". BBC News. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Court of Appeal dismisses challenges to referendum". RTÉ.ie. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  8. ^ "2015 Legislation". President of Ireland. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Same-sex marriage will be possible from November". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 May 2016.