Irish PM: 'I'll campaign strongly for equal marriage 'Yes' vote'

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has said he will be “happy to campaign strongly” for a ‘Yes’ vote in Ireland’s upcoming referendum on equal marriage.

Ireland is set to vote on the issue in May, and Mr Kenny has shot down suggestions that he is against same-sex marriage by saying: “Perception is not often reality.”

“In respect of the marriage equality issue, I have already indicated that I expect to campaign strongly for a Yes vote on that,” the Fine Gael leader told The Star.

“Fine Gael actually was the first party to deal with civil registration and civil union,” he continued. “We have had that for quite some time here and obviously society has changed and equality of marriage is an issue.”

Mr Kenny added that “it is a matter for the people at the end of the day” and that “from my point of view, I will be very happy to campaign strongly in favour of the question”.

The Irish leader’s message of support comes less than a month after he was pictured enjoying a drink at a Dublin gay bar owned by drag queen Panti Bliss – click here to find out more.

meanwhile, the Catholic Church in Ireland is already campaigning for a ‘No’ vote, saying earlier this month (December) that equal marriage would be a “grave injustice”.

Last month, Colin Farrell wrote an emotional open letter asking his countrymen to vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum, saying that it was “insane” that his gay brother was forced to leave the country in order to marry his partner – read his letter in full here.

Irish PM: ‘I’ll campaign strongly for equal marriage ‘Yes’ vote’

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