Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny
welcomed passage of a referendum on same-sex marriage.
All of Ireland's major political
parties had called on voters to vote “yes” on the constitutional
question.
(Related: Irish
voters resoundingly approve gay marriage.)
“With today's vote, we have disclosed
who we are: a generous, compassionate, bold and joyful people,”
Kenny told reporters. “Yes to inclusion. Yes to generosity. Yes
to love. Yes to equal marriage.”
Deputy Prime Minister Joan Burton, who
appeared beside Kenny, declared the outcome “a magical, moving
moment, when the world's beating heart is in Ireland.”
(Related: Ireland
prime minister makes final pitch for marriage equality.)
Fianna Fail party leader Michael
Martin, whose party is strongly tied to the Roman Catholic Church,
which called on followers to vote against the referendum, said that
it was “simply wrong in the 21st century to oppress
people because of their sexuality.”