Written question asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 22 July 2015, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 August 2015. It was answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford (Conservative) on Friday, 31 July 2015 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Marriage: Northern Ireland

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take action to secure the right of same-sex couples to marry in Northern Ireland, in the light of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on 21 July in Oliari and Others v Italy.

Answer: Within the United Kingdom’s constitutional arrangements, responsibility for legislating on the subject of marriage in relation to Northern Ireland has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and any change in the law is a matter for that Assembly. The situation in Italy is not comparable with the situation in Northern Ireland where civil partnerships are available to same-sex couples. Italy provides no legal recognition of same-sex relationships either through a civil union/registered partnership or through marriage.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL1794
Session: 2015-16
Subjects: Homosexuality Judgements European Court of Human Rights Marriage Northern Ireland
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk