Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Legislation providing for same-sex marriage cannot be enacted without an amendment to the Constitution following a "Yes" vote in a referendum on the matter. This is something of which I have no doubt the Deputy is aware because it was for this very reason that my predecessor, Dermot Ahern, introduced legislation to provide for civil partnership. In this regard, the programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a constitutional convention to consider constitutional reform on a number of issues, including provision for same-sex marriage.

The Government has recently approved the establishment of the convention and has agreed in principle to arrangements for its structure, operation and topics to be considered. The Taoiseach is consulting on these matters with the leaders of the Opposition parties at present.

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