Thousands take part in equality march
Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Dublin this afternoon to march for civil marriage equality.
Singer Brian Kennedy joined members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, their family and friends for the demonstration.
"I am here today because this is a human rights issue," Mr Kennedy told the crowd.
"There are 150 anomalies between Civil Partnership and Civil Marriage; this is the first rung on the ladder, but there are many rungs still to climb until we reach equality.’
The 5,000-strong crowd marched to the Department of Justice on St Stephen's Green, where a mass rally was staged.
Campaign group LGBT Noise believes the denial of marriage equality in Ireland is a human rights issue.
They are urging the Government to lift the ban on same-sex marriage.
"Many of us will endure poor treatment and discrimination without drawing lines, or vigorously protesting," Noise Organiser Max Krzyzanowski said.
"It is when we see discrimination inflicted on another that we resolve to fight, and I believe that it is our empathy that compels us to action today, and a desire to see that current and future generations of Irish people do not have to live with laws that marginalise and stigmatise them because of who they love."
