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Joan Burton, Enda Kenny, Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney at Dublin Castle earlier. Brian Lawless/PA Wire/Press Association Images

The best small country in which to be gay? It's better than yesterday - Enda

“A line went through my head from the old song… ‘Gone are the dark clouds that had me down, it’s going to be a bright, bright sunshiny day’.”

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY quoted a song made famous by Jimmy Cliff and delivered a bespoke version of his ‘best small country in the world’ trademark phrase as he joined Tánaiste Joan Burton for a joint press conference this evening.

“This has been the conclusion of a very long journey,” he said, answering reporters questions in a good-natured exchange at Dublin Castle.

For me it demonstrates the importance of politics, the value of people becoming involved in discussions like this, and the power of their vote.

For those who voted no – that view had to be respected, Kenny said.

“This not about creating a new minority. The question was ‘do you want to make everybody equal in civil marriage?’.

“And so now our society, our people can look forward to that equality and can stride into the future in unison as equals.

“No more will people have to go to work on Monday mornings carrying that burden with them that they lacked courage or lacked the opportunity to be themselves and the people that they are.

In that sense we respect everybody that took part in the democratic process and went out and voted.

He added:

This is a global first – a small country with a big message about equality and equality of opportunity for love and law.

Asked what would happen next – and when the first same-sex marriages were likely to happen, he said:

The Minister for Justice has already published the Bill, the general scheme of that. So she would expect that would be enacted before the summer recess, which would mean that once the conditions would be complied with that people would be entitled [to be married] upon giving three months notice in civil law.

On another reporter’s ‘best small country’ question, he responded:

“The best small country in which to be gay?

Well certainly for those who are gay and lesbian it’s much better than yesterday.

Ireland had been the first nation to make such a change by popular vote, he noted, saying it was a “very big signal from a little country like Ireland”.

Earlier, in his pre-prepared speech, he said the Yes vote would he heard resoundingly around the world.

This morning, a line went through my head from the old song… ‘Gone are the dark clouds that had me down, it’s going to be a bright, bright sunshiny day’.

“The people have spoken. They have said yes. Ireland – thank you.”

JimmyCliffVEVO / YouTube

Burton, in her speech, said the Irish people had spoken powerfully and profoundly.

“Together, we’ve chosen to make progress.

“We’ve chosen to create a more compassionate and egalitarian Constitution.

“We’ve said Yes to equality, and Yes to love.

“As Tanaiste and Labour Party leader, I’m immensely proud of the role my party played in securing this referendum and helping to win it.

But in this profoundly uplifting campaign, we were just one part of a much wider movement. A rainbow movement to help create a rainbow nation.

“So I want to thank Yes Equality, whose life-affirming campaign inspired so many to get involved.

“Just look at what you have achieved,” the Tánaiste said.

I want to thank every gay and lesbian person who told their story, who knocked on doors, who fought for every vote, and who carried the day.

“This victory will be yours forever.

“And I want to thank everybody – families and friends, neighbours and strangers, gay and straight – who came together to light a torch for hope.”

Read: Senator Katherine Zappone proposed to her partner today (and she wasn’t the only one)

Read: Ireland has voted Yes to same-sex marriage

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52 Comments
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    Mute Teddy
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:52 PM

    Well for to everyone on our island who stuck to the rules of lockdown – allowing us to come out the far side quicker that anticipated!

    175
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    Mute Pat Kelly
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:09 PM

    @Teddy: pitty the government didn’t stick to there own rules No quarantine, No testing on people coming in the country & the care homes lies…

    54
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    Mute Ricky Spanish
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    Jun 5th 2020, 6:16 PM

    @Pat Kelly: for God sake give it a rest. They’ve done a pretty good job overall.

    28
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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:58 PM

    Great need a new pair of slippers. Old ones worn out walking around the house.

    67
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    Mute John Baylon
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:30 PM

    @Joe Johnson: Hope your new slippers will ease the need for health care workers to continue their wearing of ppe when this is over

    11
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    Mute Oliver Walker
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:46 PM

    The ‘Open the country’ brigade will be happy with that. Quick turnaround though…

    50
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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:52 PM

    @Oliver Walker: You obviously don’t work or in a job that is not affected by this….put yourself in someones shoes that has mortgages to pay and needs to put food on the table, you people are so selfish its unreal…its all me me me.

    136
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    Mute Oliver Walker
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:58 PM

    @Peter Hughes: No Peter, I was temporarily laid off in March, thanks.

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:59 PM

    @Oliver Walker: great news and completely sensible!

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    Mute Oliver Walker
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:10 PM

    @Peter Hughes: Where did I mention that Peter?

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    Mute Declan Leonard
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:15 PM

    @Peter Hughes: try seeing the sarcasm in his 1st message

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    Mute Jake Kelly
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:00 PM

    If they didn’t reopen shops people would be mad, if they reopened shops people would be mad. Not praising the government or anything but no matter what choices they made today they’d be angering someone who probably can’t see the complexity of the issues from a financial well-being standpoint. Health and safety standards are going to be changed to accommodate things but the longer things remained shut the greater the chance of economic decimation grew day by day. As it is things still won’t be normal and the effects will be felt for a long time

    45
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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:46 PM

    Shops that sell pints of porter and have the added convenicene of sitting down and drinking it there also? Too far….

    51
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    Mute Luke Redmond
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:50 PM

    The march was the catalyst for this imo
    Public opinion had swung against them

    45
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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:09 PM

    @Luke Redmond: #PaddysLifesMatter

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    Mute John fitzpatrick
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    Jun 5th 2020, 4:11 PM

    @Luke Redmond: the majority of people were against the march and still are. It’s still breaking the mass gathering rule and still a liability.

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    Mute Luke Redmond
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    Jun 5th 2020, 4:53 PM

    @John fitzpatrick: I totally agree
    Maybe I wasn’t clear
    The march shouldn’t have happened and the fact it did turned public opinion against restrictions as it undermined them

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    Mute Darryl Canning
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:57 PM

    When can I get a haircut?

    34
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    Mute Marie Louise Ryan
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:56 PM

    Scroll to comments section, is Penny’s opening

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:59 PM

    @Marie Louise Ryan: As long as they are not in a shopping center then they can open. Fingers crossed for you ..

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    Mute Trish O'Leary-Dunne
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:11 PM

    @Marie Louise Ryan: Pennys said they aren’t ready to open on Monday sadly.

    10
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    Mute Nell foran
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:32 PM

    This acceleration is madness it doesn’t give time to check if the numbers go up.

    14
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    Mute Symbolism
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:06 PM

    Is all browsing banned or just leisurely browsing ?

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    Mute whatistheseason
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    Jun 5th 2020, 4:15 PM

    Black pints matter – open the pubs!

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    Mute Modern Irish Dad
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:54 PM

    That’s good I like my local

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    Mute Martin Smith
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:32 PM

    Leo be happy that he can return home now after having to relocate to farmleigh so that he could meet his mates for a few cans in the park

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    Mute John fitzpatrick
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    Jun 5th 2020, 4:12 PM

    @Martin Smith: Yawn!!

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    Mute Chewns
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:54 PM

    Barbers opening?

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    Mute Anthony Whelan
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:06 PM

    @Chewns: July 20

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    Mute Noel O'Neill
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:18 PM

    Public transport is driving people to use their own cars, different drivers are been selected as to how many people they let on, also all very well for these places to open and I’m not against it but to the HSE who should be working in tandem with the phases and getting people their appointments for different health reasons should be opening as well

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    Mute Fionn Darland
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:56 PM

    Great news!

    7
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    Mute james r
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    Jun 5th 2020, 4:39 PM

    The funniest thing is how people reacting. Yesterday they were crying that they’re so scared as virus is spreading and they were ringing garda when their neighbours went to the beach and today they’re so happy that they can go sunbathing or to shops with thousands others. Where is logic in it? Are they really so stupid that yesterday they believed we’ll all die and today there is no danger anymore just because government told them? Stupidness is everywhere

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    Mute Daniel Roche
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    Jun 5th 2020, 5:13 PM

    @james r: are you still telling lies, would you ever grow up.

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    Mute mar
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    Jun 5th 2020, 6:03 PM

    @james r: Completely agree. This whole situation really has been an eye-opener.

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    Mute Dermot O'Reilly
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    Jun 5th 2020, 7:11 PM

    All churches remain closed

    Thanks to unelected dictator Varadakar

    4
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