Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

How can one know that two same sex people cannot marry? The Minister is stating in black and white they are in a prohibited degree of relationship, in other words they are prohibited from availing from this section on cohabitation if, first, they would be prohibited from marrying each other in the State. Clearly, it remains the case that same sex couples cannot marry in this State.

See this speech in context