Two in three people from Northern Ireland support equal marriage, poll shows
By Micah Sulit
commissioned by RTÉ and BBC Northern Ireland has revealed that 64% of people from Northern Ireland “were either fairly or very comfortable” about a close family member marrying a same-sex partner.
Meanwhile, 67% of respondents from the Republic of Ireland were in favour of gay marriage.
The results of the cross-border survey, which polled 1,000 people each from the North and the South, are encouraging for beleaguered marriage equality campaigners in Northern Ireland.
On Monday, the Northern Ireland Assembly held its fifth vote on same-sex marriage. It was the first time a simple majority of MLAs voted yes, but a petition of concern deployed by the Democratic Unionist Party effectively blocked the proposal.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK and Ireland that has not legalised same-sex marriage.
The complete survey results, which also touch on a variety of other issues such as abortion and national identity, will be unveiled on a special programme, ‘Ireland’s Call’, airing on RTÉ One tonight.
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