The Guardian 5 November 2013
Ireland is to hold a referendum in mid-2015 on whether to allow same-sex marriage, the Republic’s government has said.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, is a victory for the deputy prime minister, Eamon Gilmore, who has been lobbying for a national vote.
The vote will be held as part of a special “constitution day”, in which a wide-ranging referendum could result in other changes to the Republic’s constitution such as the abolition of blasphemy laws.
Before Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Gilmore said he hoped the Fine Gael-Labour government would back moves toward full equality in Ireland.
Gilmore, who isleader of the Irish Labour party, said it would be “important to win this referendum”.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/05/ireland-referendum-gay-marriage
