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COUNCILLORS IN KERRY will be asked to back a motion supporting marriage equality at its next monthly meeting.
The motion was tabled by Labour Councillor Gillian Wharton-Slattery following approaches from people in the local gay community.
“They talked to me about how other councils had tabled and passed similar motions,” she told TheJournal.ie. “And they asked why it hadn’t been done here too.”
Cork City Council were the first to carry the landmark motion in July 2012. It was soon followed by Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and Waterford City Council. A number of senior politicians, including Leo Varadkar, Alan Shatter and several Labour TDs, have all said they are in favour of the introduction of same-sex marriage.
Despite support from the majority of political parties, Wharton-Slattery is fearful that people will break from the party line.
“It is an individual choice at the end of the day. I haven’t lobbied fellow councillors as I will let the democratic process exist in the chamber. People will make up their own minds. I have a sneaky feeling it could be in trouble getting through.”
However, she remains “cautiously hopeful”.
“I would be delighted for the 5.5 per cent of the population of Kerry that are gay for the motion to go through. We will have marriage equality eventually in this country. It would be nice to see what different councillors have to say on the matter.”
The vote will be taken late on Monday afternoon.
Last year, some 965 civil partnerships were registered in Ireland but any legislation to provide for same-sex marriage will require a referendum of the Irish people. The issue is due to be discussed during by the Constitutional Convention this year. The Taoiseach has previously declined to express a solid view on the matter.
Earlier this month, British politicians approved a draft law allowing same-sex couples to marry in England and Wales.
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Why do they bother voting on things they don’t actually have the power to change? Are they short of things to do? They can no more change the marriage laws than they can change the drink driving laws. Stick to voting on whether to put more bins in Tralee, lads!
If they vote for Marriage Equality it may reflect how the county might vote if there is a referendum! If nothing else raising awareness for marriage equality is a positive step in the right direction!
There is no way the members of the Kerry council voting reflects on how anyone might vote. Idiots.
It reflects the views of the people, in a way that a poll or survey would but with a bit more clout behind it. the only thing that can change the law in this country on same sex marriage is a referendum
Distraction from the drudgery of being a local authority, I suppose.
Can’t see our liberal friends in Kerry voting against the motion, after all they voted in support of drink driving …..just fearful of the conditions they may attach to the proposal …. (all joking aside, same sex marriage is a basic human right)
There will be a special Wedding Drinking Permit. A licence to drive home drunk from any wedding. Now expanded to include same sex weddings.
The Kerry people are very nice people,I go there for a week every summer and its a great place.
What’s going on with the journal’s fascination with Kerry these days, it hasn’t broken away from the republic has it?
So Kerry County Council are putting all their Gathering efforts into attracting Gay Alcoholics!
A referendum is needed to allow people of the same sex to marry, but it seems a government can make a whole population responsible for wealthy criminals gambling debts, ( debts that will cause serious hardship for generations) by a stroke of a pen. When are people gonna put a stop to this madness? If that’s democracy, then you may keep it!
An opportunity to shoehorn an anti-Government/anti-austerity/anti-bailout statement into an article on a completely unrelated topic should never be missed. Now go comment on the Valentine’s cards from sports stars article.
Anyway, well done to Gillian, I hope the motion passes. It’s only a matter of time now before all the dominos fall!
Rodrigo, do you wake up ranting?
I suspect the Kerry chamber will be a lonely place on Monday afternoon…
My point is that why do we need to hold a referendum to allow two people to marry, but we have no say when it comes to paying for other people’s debts. How can that be democratic? What’s more important? If two people want to get married, that’s none of my business, but getting myself and my children into serious debt is definitely my business.
*yawn*
Well said!
Rodrigo, a referendum is not required to allow same sex marriage, as the sex of the couple is not mentioned in the constitution. The recent cases to set a precedence against gay marriage were based on common interpretation of marriage. If a progressive judge rules that Irish people acknowledge that sex does not come into it, I.e. local councils stating that they support it, then it will be recognisable.
But seriously, is it open mic night every night in Kerry county council?
@rodrigo Once again, someone makes a reasonable comment on the Journal and gets lots of red thumbs.
Biffo’s law Rodrigo , you broke Biffo’s law ……
Come on Kerry -do the right thing and support the motion! No cowardly abstentions! The Council needs to get back some civic authority given its last ridiculous recommendation on drink driving permits!
Cant wait to see how they vote on this. Plenty of abstentions I bet.
the ring of Kerry will become even bigger !
Is Kerry going to declare Independence?
Well done Kerry you got something right!
Kerry is the new Rebel County, they are the caretaker Government and the Heal-Raes are attempting a Coup!
So in Kerry from Tuesday you’ll be able to marry your gay lover and drive home drunk from the reception.
They do love a bit of publicity.
The pink dollar is not a swipe at gay people. It is a fact that a lot of gay people have very well paid jobs, And are high spenders when on holiday. All the cruise operators cashed in years ago on this fact. And if kerry can do it to. Fair play to them. best of luck.
Whatever the outcome it’ll probably be worth a chuckle.
I really hope I’m proven wrong but I don’t think this will pass despite the fact that every other local authority who have voted on this measure have voted in favour. Several things strike me about Kerry – the Haely-Rae’s, support for driving drunk & that Come Dine With Me episode were the “most fashionable man in Kerry” painted his face black and pretended to be Phil Lynott.
Perhaps the Journal can get a list of the yes voters, the no voters, the abstainers and those who legged it out of the chamber to avoid voting.
Let’s hope they aren’t using telephone voting – we don’t want the Dail phone bill going through the roof.
I hear their next meeting is on proposals to build a rocket so they can fly to the Moon and get free cheese for all Kerry people, he he
They will vote for it. They know the value of the pink dollar. and the pink dollar is worth millions.
Last time I checked, a dollar in my pocket (or as you call it, a pink dollar) was worth exactly $1.00. Should I go back to the USA and claim the millions they owe me for not giving me the gay exchange rate?
Same sex marriage and drink driving , have they nothing else to waste there time on , is this another Kerryman joke
There was a bit in The Anglo Celt before Christmas. Apparently when the motion came up before Cavan county council a certain councillors used the leaflet he got at mass to oppose it.
According to Councillor Slattery she’d be delighted for the 5.5% of Kerry people who are gay if the bill passed. I was always led to believe that 1 in 10 is gay so are the kerry boys not coming out or are they just naturally more macho in kerry. ? And out if interest, if 2 guys get married do they argue over who gets to wear the dress.? Only joking. No offence intended.
Eh, 5% is one in twenty, and you’re forgetting the female population there. So if it was split evenly, a little over one in forty Kerry men are gay. Not that it matters what their orientation is either way.
Oh wait, I took you up wrong! Sorry! Carry on, nothing to see here.
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