by Alan Jacques
LIMERICK’s youngest councillor Lisa Marie Sheehy has urged local politicians to commit to supporting and actively campaign for marriage equality in the run up to the upcoming referendum on same-sex marriage.
In an impassioned speech during this month’s Council meeting, Cllr Sheehy called on all public representatives as individuals to work together on this issue. The 21-year-old University College Cork student insisted that the upcoming referendum is about love and about celebrating the fact that some people wish to be able to commit to one another in marriage.
“As republicans, equality is at the heart of all we believe in and we strive for this every day in the course of our work and activism,” the Sinn Féin councillor for Cappamore-Kilmallock commented.
“We believe in a new republic where all citizens are equal, regardless of the colour of their skin, their religious belief, sexual orientation, where they live and what they do. Offering same-sex couples civil partnership is offering them a second-class right. This is absolutely and entirely unacceptable in 2015 Ireland. It is prehistoric, ancient and discriminatory,” claimed Cllr Sheehy.
“The time has come for marriage equality. This is a human rights and equality issue. Loving, committed relationships between two consenting adults should be treated equally regardless of gender or sexual orientation. All couples, same-sex or otherwise, should be allowed to share the same responsibilities, obligations and respect that marriage provides. This should be enshrined in the Constitution. Love is love,” she concluded.
In response, Fine Gael councillor for Newcastle West, John Sheahan commented, “This is a very emotive issue and it will be decided by the people of Ireland.”
Cllr Bill O’Donnell (FG), revealed he was looking forward to a good debate on the issue in the coming months. “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” he said.
Anti Austerity Allaince councillor Cian Prendiville told council members that he supported Cllr Sheehy’s motion. However, when he tried to address some of the points made by councillors, Cllr Kevin Sheahan (FF) interjected, “She had unanimous support before you opened your mouth”.
