Shatter 'would not disagree' with Gilmore comments on gay marriage
Justice Minister Alan Shatter has indicated his support for gay marriage, saying it is in the public interest to address the issue in the forthcoming Constitutional Convention.
It follows comments by the Tánaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore yesterday who said the time has come for a move on gay marriage in Ireland.
Speaking as the Dublin Gay Pride festival came to a close yesterday Mr Gilmore said that if his party is serious about building a new, progressive society, the issue of gay marriage is one that they must resolve.
Minister Shatter meanwhile said people should be able to get on with their own lives freely.
"I believe that individuals should be allowed to get on with their lives freely in circumstances in which their circumstances don't detrimentally impact on others," he said.
"I fully support equality, I fully support civil partnership - and I think it's in the public interest (that) this Constitution issue be addressed in the Constitutional Convention that is going to be held.
"There is nothing the Tánaiste said with which I would personally disagree," he added.
"One of the difficulties in this area is our Constitution, which under Article 41 makes reference to marriage; that reference in multiple court cases has been defined as referring to a marriage between a man and a woman.
"This issue is an issue that needs to be addressed (and), is going to be addressed in the Constitutional Convention," he added.
