YES: Deputy David Stanton
“OUR citizens are being asked to vote on two separate issues on Friday - one is the referendum on marriage and the other referendum is on presidential age.
I intend to vote yes to both of these questions.
The referendum on presidential age is seeking to lower the age at which a person can run for president to 21-years. Currently it stands at 35-years, so anyone under this age cannot be nominated to even have his or her name on the ballot paper.
The age to be eligible for election to Dail Eireann is 21-years and this referendum, if passed, will bring the age to be eligible for presidential election in line with this. If someone under the age of 35 can become Taoiseach, then it should be possible to seek a nomination to become President as well.
The referendum on marriage is about extending the legal right to marry to two people regardless of their sex, which will mean that same-sex couples will be allowed to marry.
At present only heterosexual couples can legally marry, whereas civil partnership is the only legal commitment available to homosexual couples.
Civil partnership does not confer the same legal rights as marriage does, in particular, civil partnership does not enjoy constitutional protection, nor does it provide for succession and property rights.
By voting yes in the marriage referendum, I aim to ensure that all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, are treated equally in Irish law.”