Monday mornings eh!  Who’d have ‘em?  This morning was particularly grim for me as I had to get up extra early and, not only was I met with a now-familiar pitch dark winter morning, but also lashings and lashing of rain that feels like the water that drips out of the freezer as you wrestle with the frozen veg.

However, when I managed to get onto the queue for a cup of tea I had my usual read of the headlines on the papers and low and behold I was met with something can could warm even the most wretched day – The Irish Times proclaiming that Majority backs same-sex union, poll indicates.  Well now I said to myself, work might have to wait a little while, this I simply must read.

More people are comfortable with us getting hitched

Change is the future

The article refers to a poll taken by Ipsos MRBI on their 50th anniversary and involved looking at proposed changes to the Irish Constitution that are going to be dealt with by the now famous Constitutional Convention.  The poll, with an error of plus or minus 3%, asked people about issues such as changing the voting age to 17, abolition of the Seanad and same sex marriage rights.  Although those asked were against changing the minimum voting age they seemed in favour of the other changes mentioned.

Let’s cut to the chase, on the issue of same sex marriage the poll says

Yes: 53%

No: 30%

No opinion: 17%

 

Although better statistics have come out of previous polls, it’s important to see the majority is still there for the various polls that will no doubt continue to be taken.  The usual result of younger people in favour and over 55′s against stood but what was interesting was that women were “significantly more in favour” than men.  I wouldn’t have thought the gender difference would be so pronounced.

Let’s get them opinionated!

What strikes me also is that 17% of people had no opinion, we need to start working on them, I think I shall have to raise the issue again at lunch today and renew my motivation in changing hearts and minds.

If you would like to get involved in the fight for marriage equality then don’t fret, the Marriage Equality TD campaign is alive and well and needs your help.  Visiting your local TD can have a massive effect on getting us over the line, especially if he/she is on the Convention, so get visiting!