Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Taoiseach Enda Kenny Niall Carson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Taoiseach on same-sex marriage: 'I wouldn’t have the same opinion as the Tánaiste'

Enda Kenny will campaign for a Yes vote in the same-sex marriage referendum, but does not agree with Eamon Gilmore’s assessment that it is the “civil rights issue of this generation”.

THE TAOISEACH DOES not share the view of the Tánaiste that same-sex marriage is the “civil rights issue of this generation” ahead of a referendum on the issue which is due to take place in 2015.

Enda Kenny stressed that he will support the referendum’s passage and campaign for it but said that the single biggest issue for him is “jobs and employment”.

Eamon Gilmore has previously said that “the right of gay couples to marry is, quite simply, the civil rights issue of this generation and, in my opinion, its time has come” with the Cabinet agreeing in November to a recommendation from the Constitutional Convention to hold a referendum.

Several Cabinet ministers, including Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar and Alan Shatter, have publicly come out in favour of legalising marriage between same-sex couples.

The Taoiseach’s refusal to state what his position was caused some controversy in the summer of 2012 and though he has now committed to supporting a referendum when it is held he has not specifically outlined his beliefs on the issue.

“I wouldn’t have the same opinion as the Tánaiste, don’t get me wrong on that now, I support it and will canvass for it when it comes,” Kenny said.

“But for me, the single biggest issue is our jobs and employment. This is what politics is about, this is about motivating people, about opening doors of opportunity, about sorting out the problems that are there.”

Though it is pencilled in for early 2015, the Taoiseach is less certain, saying that a date is not decided and that the referendum could be part of a series of votes held on one day dealing with recommendations from the Constitutional Convention.

Kenny also acknowledged possible difficulties within his own party on the issue of rights for same-sex couples when asked if he believed a bill parents in a same-sex relationship would be supported by all in the Fine Gael parliamentary party.

“It’s a matter for debate and discussion,” he said. “Obviously the Fine Gael party has a very broad range on any piece of legislation. People are entitled to have their own views of course.”

The Taoiseach added that for him “my politics, the big thing, is getting our country back to work. Everything flows from that”.

Read: First poll finds large majority in favour of same sex marriage

Read: Same-sex marriage vote to be one of a number of referendums to be held in 2015

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
204 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bernadette Dunne
    Favourite Bernadette Dunne
    Report
    Nov 20th 2011, 4:13 PM

    Best of Luck to all and do not give up keep the pressure on even when yea feel like giving up this government are going away the people are not Best wishes

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Woods
    Favourite John Woods
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 2:13 AM

    If they are looking to close down a “house” to save money, I can think of one or two places which could be shut instead of this nursing home. Senate, Farmleigh, even Aras an Uachtarain for god sake.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute iWmTN8uK
    Favourite iWmTN8uK
    Report
    Nov 20th 2011, 7:05 PM

    To those of you against this and other cuts, where do you propose money is going to majestically fall from? The trees?

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute elaine
    Favourite elaine
    Report
    Nov 20th 2011, 8:47 PM

    Cut management who are clearly failing at their jobs, cut back office nobodies, do not take the homes out from under innocent vulnerable people!!

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John McHugh
    Favourite John McHugh
    Report
    Nov 20th 2011, 11:29 PM

    I would hate to burst your bubble Micheal but the Euro is a fiat currency.
    So although it doesnt grow on trees, it is made from trees and holds as much value as there is nothing backing it.

    So ironically enough value wise it may as well grow on trees.

    But hey, karma’s a bitch.
    When you grow old and have your pension used as collateral for greedy gamblers so that they don’t have to put their hands into their own pockets, maybe your mark on society will leave you high and dry and out in the cold to die.

    40
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Carroll
    Favourite Declan Carroll
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 12:29 AM

    Meanwhile our last Minister for Health, Mary Harney, is in receipt of E130,000 a year pension. Not bad for someone who’s very political philosophy lead to the ruination of an entire nation. What does that work out a week ? FFS !!!

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John
    Favourite John
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 12:44 AM

    So…in your world, we all just lie down and let the establishment cut us back to a third-world society. I guess the “those of you” you refer to don’t come from the Banking World?

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Mulligan
    Favourite Niall Mulligan
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 1:15 AM

    Attaboy, Declan.

    The biggest problem I see at the moment is that cuts and taxpayer pain seems like a soft option to our leaders, only way to make them change course is to have them fear the electorate. We need to seem more protests, hopefully this is only the start.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bernadette Dunne
    Favourite Bernadette Dunne
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 3:54 AM

    There is money going out on HUGE SALARIES TO TD’s Ministers Senators county Councillors an Tanaiste Bankers and top Civil Servants management teams etc etc etc it is time that their wage be cut with a very sharp cut and now they are way overpaid

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carr Barnes
    Favourite Carr Barnes
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 8:11 AM

    What if the government told you you had to move out of your home to another area? And while imagining that take into account u.at you can’t just hop onto a bus or into a car to go see friends or family meaning you would be isolated in a place you don’t know with people you don’t know. These are people not boxes of junk.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Dunne
    Favourite Daniel Dunne
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 2:41 AM

    I attended this march today and it is sickening to see what those in power are willing to do to very elderly citizens. But reading between the lines, there is planning permission granted for a private nursing home within 100m of the current public hospital. It seems the “brown envelope” culture is still strong in our nation.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bernadette Dunne
    Favourite Bernadette Dunne
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 3:58 AM

    Is the private nursing home connect to James Reilly by any chance in abbeyleix

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Ryan
    Favourite John Ryan
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 1:11 AM

    Michael, where did the money come from to pay back the bond holders? Seems there was no bother there. Let’s get our priorities straight and look after our own first instead of accepting our politicians arse-licking the fat cats in Europe who are effectively running the show now and it’s people like this who get left in the shit. Good Luck to them, I hope justice prevails!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CMD
    Favourite CMD
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 5:46 AM

    Bernadette you have probably near enough hit the nail on the head. There is some vested interest involved – some fat cat will benefit from this closure. And the frightening thing is that ordinary people really have no power against this sort of thing for another 4 and half years till we get a chance to vote this shower out. I’d bet the next government will be made up of a lot of independents. People just won’t trust any party from now on.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O'Doherty
    Favourite Dave O'Doherty
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 6:37 AM

    CMD, it’s a pity that some people think that the people only have power once every five years. We have it all the time, 24/7.

    Problem is, we have such a short memory that our next government will probably be a coalition of FF and FG who will both still (amazingly) have enough support to get in after Labour are butchered like the Greens.

    We’re a country of lambs and lambs get slaughtered. Simples!

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John
    Favourite John
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 2:34 AM

    Current Government Minister with an ‘Overwhelming Mandate’ in a rare moment of humble contemplation: “Hmmm…Imagine if the referendum on Oireachtas inquiries had passed and then we could have made an example of these obstinate protest march organisers (in matters of general public interest of course, and with little or no recourse to the Courts) for defying this Governments’ agenda on the Privatisation of Everything.”…Maybe in the next Referendum?!

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank McMahon
    Favourite Frank McMahon
    Report
    Nov 20th 2011, 10:25 PM

    the sign wouldve been more effective if it said “im NOT a celebrity, you cant get me out of here..”

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CMD
    Favourite CMD
    Report
    Nov 21st 2011, 11:20 AM

    Dave I agree with you about the “sheep” who will still vote FF or FG regardless of what either party do while in office. My point is that we really have no power at this moment to stop the closure of nursing homes, barracks or hospitals. They will be forced on us, we will be told it’s for the good of the economy or health and safety and in 4 years time a lot of these actions will be forgotten and the same merry-go-round of promises, speeches and bulls….t will start again. And most people will fall for it all over again. I’m long enough around to have seen it all many times. I just despair of this country. Then we have so many young people who won’t even vote – ach sin sceal eile!

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds