David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will make another point before I do so. It is a disgrace that the Unitarian Church, which is included in the list, is not permitted to solemnise marriage between people of the same sex as it wishes to do. It is right that the church I have named is being given the power to marry people under a fairly strict regime, but it is not right that it is being denied the religious freedom to do what it wants. It is an example of serious religious and sectarian discrimination against a religious group. I imagine that most of the secularist and humanist groups would also be happy to solemnise these marriages, and perhaps they should. I almost feel like proposing to one of the people in the Gallery so we can see how it works out. They are smiling their agreement. The second message I would like to send from Seanad Éireann - I am sure most of my colleagues support me in this regard - is that the Minister should get her skates on and accept that we want to celebrate. The acknowledgment we want is not just a humanist one. People who are debarred from-----