Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is such a privilege to stand up in the House and welcome the decision of the Irish people to say "Yes" to marriage equality. I acknowledge today our great hero and champion, Senator David Norris, along with all of the colleagues who participated in bringing forward that outcome. I acknowledge, too, all the citizens who voted, whether "Yes" or "No", for their engagement and the depth of their reflection on their values and on the arguments from both sides. My Dublin South-West Yes Equality team visited approximately 25,000 households in the course of the campaign and had at least 10,000 conversations with residents on the doorstep. I was deeply moved, time and time again, by how Irish people engaged in those conversations and showed their care for this State. I had the wonderful opportunity yesterday to speak with our former President, Mary Robinson, about the referendum. One of the things she said to me was that it feels like we are back to the early years of her Presidency, when there was great engagement, hope and a vision for change for Ireland, and a consideration of how we might offer that example of change to the rest of the world.

I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the spokespeople for the "No" side, particularly those who sit on the opposite side of this Chamber. I witnessed their immense dedication to this debate time and again. Although we disagreed deeply, I always felt personally respected by them. I thank them for that.

When my life partner, Ann Louise Gilligan, soon to be acknowledged as my spouse in the eyes of this republic, and I conducted our case in the courts almost a decade ago, one of the arguments put forward by our legal counsel was that our human right to marry each other should exist, even if the majority did not agree, and it was the role of the courts to protect the rights of those in the minority. I take this chance to express, one final time, our profound gratitude to that legal team. It included Senator Ivana Bacik, who sits in this Chamber with me today.

When we saw that the decision on this fundamental right was to move from the courts to the people, it was not easy in the beginning. However, we came to the view that if the majority of the people were to say "Yes" to equality, freedom and love, it would far outweigh the import of any judicial decision, even that of the highest court in the land. I thank the people of Ireland for their decision.