Ireland's British Embassy Hosts Same-sex Couples

The British embassy in Dublin is hosting civil partnership ceremonies for gay couples because same-sex unions are not legal in Ireland.

Five such weddings have taken place in the precincts of the building, in south Dublin, since mid-August. They are held in a public area so that anyone may come along and object. At least one of those involved has to be a British citizen. So far no one has threatened to ruin a couple's big day. The embassy is legally regarded as British territory.

The fact that they are being held emerged as an opinion poll showed growing support for the Irish Republic to change its laws. Of those polled for a survey conducted for the Sunday Tribune, 64% were in favour of same-sex couples being granted the legal and financial rights enjoyed by married couples.

The law in the UK was changed to legalise civil partnerships last year, following decades of lobbying by gay groups who claimed the ban was discriminatory.

The Irish government does not recognise same-sex unions but is coming under pressure to change the law. In May the justice minister, Michael McDowell, said he would support same-sex partnerships on the grounds that Ireland had moved away from the socially conservative position it had adopted in the past. But granting full marriage rights, he pointed out, would require a change to the constitution.