Northern Ireland same-sex marriage bill passes first stage

A Westminster bill calling for same sex marriage in Northern Ireland has passed its first parliamentary stage.

Conservative peer Lord Hayward tabled the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Bill in the Lords on Tuesday afternoon.

In line with parliamentary procedure, the formal first reading of the private member’s bill was brief and was not accompanied by a debate.

Peers will have a chance to voice their opinions on the proposed legislation on its second reading.

Photo By Kurt Löwenstein Educational Center International Team from Germany (qe07 (9)) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons