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marriage referendum

We asked every TD and Senator if they’re voting Yes or No. Here’s what they said...

The majority are leaning one way.

Updated 16.45 

THE VAST MAJORITY of TDs and Senators intend to vote Yes in next week’s same-sex marriage referendum.

TheJournal.ie contacted every member of the Oireachtas in recent days to see how they intend to vote.

Of the 173 (of 225*) who responded, 163 intend to vote Yessix plan on voting No, and one is unsure. Three declined to share their intentions. The rest did not respond.

The six Oireachtas members against the referendum include independent TDs Michael Healy-Rae and Mattie McGrath, along with independent senators Fidelma Healy Eames, Ronan Mullen, Feargal Quinn and Jim Walsh.

Fianna Fáil TD Seamus Kirk said he is unsure which way he is voting in the referendum.

A spokesperson for Minister Paschal Donohoe originally told this website he would be keeping his vote for the confidentiality of the ballot box, but has subsequently made it clear he will be voting Yes.

Sinn Féin said all of its TDs and Senators are voting Yes. Meath West deputy Peadar Tóibín was the only member of their parliamentary party not to respond to our survey.

(*226 minus Phil Hogan’s old seat in Carlow/Kilkenny)

Gay Marriage Equality Referendums Fine Gael has been campaigning for a Yes vote Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

ronan no Rónán Mullen is voting No Hugh O'Connell / TheJournal.ie Hugh O'Connell / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

Here’s who said they’re voting Yes**:

  • Deputy Gerry Adams (Sinn Féin)
  • Senator Ivana Bacik (Labour)
  • Deputy James Bannon (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Seán Barrett (independent)
  • Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit/United Left Alliance)
  • Senator Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Tommy Broughan (independent)
  • Minister Richard Bruton (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
  • Tánaiste Joan Burton (Labour)
  • Deputy Ray Butler (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

  • Deputy Catherine Byrne (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Dara Calleary (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Ciarán Cannon (Fine Gael)
  • Minister of State Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Eamonn Coghlan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Áine Collins (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Niall Collins (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Joan Collins (United Left Alliance)
  • Deputy Michael Colreavy (Sinn Féin)
  • Senator Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Paul Connaughton (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Ciara Conway (Labour)
  • Senator Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Ruth Coppinger (Socialist Party/Anti-Austerity Alliance)
  • Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Joe Costello (Labour)

Gay Marriage Equality Referendums Gerry Adams Leah Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leah Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

  • Minister Simon Coveney (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil)
  • Senator Gerard Craughwell (independent)
  • Deputy Michael Creed (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Lucinda Creighton (Renua Ireland)
  • Deputy Seán Crowe (Sinn Féin)
  • Senator John Crown (independent)
  • Senator David Cullinane (Sinn Féin)
  • Senator Michael D’Arcy (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Jim D’Arcy (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Clare Daly (United Left Alliance)
  • Deputy Jim Daly (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Mark Daly (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy John Deasy (Fine Gael)
  • Minister of State Jimmy Deenihan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Pat Deering (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Regina Doherty (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Pearse Doherty (Sinn Féin)
  • Deputy Stephen Donnelly (independent)
  • Minister Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Robert Dowds (Labour)

New TD Ruth Coppinger Ruth Coppinger and Joe Higgins Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

  • Deputy Andrew Doyle (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Bernard Durkan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Dessie Ellis (Sinn Féin)
  • Minister of State Damien English (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Alan Farrell (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Anne Ferris (Labour)
  • Deputy Martin Ferris (Sinn Féin)
  • Minister Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice (independent)
  • Minister Charles Flanagan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Seán Fleming (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Tom Fleming (independent)
  • Deputy Eamon Gilmore (Labour)
  • Senator John Gilroy (Labour)
  • Deputy Brendan Griffin (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy John Halligan (independent)
  • Deputy Dominic Hannigan (Labour)
  • Minister of State Simon Harris (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Aideen Hayden (Labour)
  • Deputy Tom Hayes (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Séamus Healy (Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

Gay Marriage Equality Referendums Richard Boyd Barrett Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

  • Senator James Heffernan (independent)
  • Deputy Martin Heydon (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Joe Higgins (Socialist Party/Anti-Austerity Alliance)
  • Senator Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
  • Minister Brendan Howlin (Labour)
  • Minister Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael
  • Minister of State Kevin Humphreys (Labour)
  • Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Derek Keating (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Colm Keaveney (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fáil)
  • Minister Alan Kelly (Labour)
  • Senator John Kelly (Labour)

https://vine.co/v/e7O57jUK37q

  • Taoiseach Enda Kenny (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Seán Kenny (Labour)
  • Deputy Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Denis Landy (Labour)
  • Deputy Anthony Lawlor (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Ciarán Lynch (Labour)
  • Minister of State Kathleen Lynch (Labour)
  • Deputy John Lyons (Labour)
  • Senator Fiach Mac Conghail (independent)
  • Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Féin)

File Photo Independent TDs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly have each been fined 2,000 euro after being convicted on two charges of breaching airport bylaws at Shannon Airport in Co Clare. Mick Wallace and Clare Daly Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

  • Deputy Eamonn Maloney (Labour)
  • Deputy Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Michael McCarthy (Labour)
  • Deputy Charlie McConalogue (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Féin)
  • Deputy Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Michael McGrath (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Finian McGrath (independent)
  • Deputy Sandra McLellan (Sinn Féin)
  • Deputy Tony McLoughlin (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Olivia Mitchell (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Mary Moran (Labour)
  • Senator Tony Mulcahy (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
  • Minister of State Dara Murphy (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Eoghan Murphy (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Catherine Murphy (independent)
  • Deputy Paul Murphy (Socialist Party/Anti-Austerity Alliance)
  • Minister of State Gerald Nash (Labour)
  • Deputy Denis Naughten (independent) 
  • Senator Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Dan Neville (Fine Gael)

Gay Marriage Equality Referendums Labour is backing the referendum too. Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

  • Deputy Derek Nolan (Labour)
  • Minister Michael Noonan (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)
  • Senator David Norris (independent)
  • Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Sinn Féin)
  • Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Féin)
  • Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Fianna Fáil)
  • Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour)
  • Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin)
  • Deputy Jonathan O’Brien (Sinn Féin)
  • Senator Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fáil)
  • Senator Mary Ann O’Brien (independent)
  • Deputy Patrick O’Donovan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Fergus O’Dowd (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Susan O’Keeffe (Labour)
  • Deputy Joe O’Reilly (Fine Gael)
  • Minister Jan O’Sullivan (Labour)

Ruairi Quinn Leaves Politics Ruairí Quinn Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

  • Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan (independent)
  • Deputy Willie Penrose (Labour)
  • Deputy John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Ann Phelan (Labour)
  • Senator Averil Power (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Thomas Pringle (independent)
  • Deputy Ruairí Quinn (Labour)
  • Minister James Reilly (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Féin)
  • Deputy Shane Ross (independent)
  • Deputy Alan Shatter (Fine Gael)
  • Minister Seán Sherlock (Labour)
  • Deputy Róisín Shortall (independent)
  • Deputy Arthur Spring (Labour)
  • Deputy Emmet Stagg (Labour)

  • Deputy Brian Stanley (Sinn Féin)
  • Deputy David Stanton (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil)
  • Senator Jillian van Turnhout (independent)
  • Minister Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Jack Wall (Labour)
  • Deputy Mick Wallace (independent)
  • Deputy Brian Walsh (Fine Gael)
  • Senator John Whelan (Labour)
  • Minister Alex White (Labour)
  • Senator Katherine Zappone (independent)

**The vast majority of these people responded, but a few were added based on the fact they have been actively campaigning for a Yes vote or previously said they are voting Yes.

Here’s who said they’re voting No:

Fine Gael Graduates PRSI Schemes Fidelma Healy Eames Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

  • Senator Fidelma Healy Eames (independent)
  • Deputy Michael Healy-Rae (independent)
  • Deputy Mattie McGrath (independent)

  • Senator Rónán Mullen (independent)
  • Senator Feargal Quinn (independent)
  • Senator Jim Walsh (independent)

Abortion Legislation Voting Takes Place Michael Healy-Rae and Mattie McGrath Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Here’s who is undecided:

  • Deputy Séamus Kirk (Fianna Fáil)

Here’s who doesn’t wish to say how they’re voting:

  • Deputy Michael Lowry (independent)
  • Senator Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fáil)
  • Senator Marie-Louise O’Donnell (independent)

michael lowry Michael Lowry Laura Hutton / Photocall Laura Hutton / Photocall / Photocall

Here’s who failed to respond:

  • Deputy Tom Barry (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Paul Bradford (Renua Ireland)
  • Deputy Pat Breen (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy John Browne (Fianna Fáil)
  • Senator Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Eric Byrne (Labour)
  • Senator Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Michael Conaghan (Labour)
  • Deputy Seán Conlan (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Terence Flanagan (Renua Ireland
  • Deputy Noel Grealish (independent)
  • Deputy Noel Harrington (Fine Gael)
  • Minister Paul Kehoe (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Terry Leyden (Fianna Fáil)
  • Senator Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Peter Mathews (independent)
  • Deputy Helen McEntee (Fine Gael)
  • Minister Dinny McGinley (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy John McGuinness (Fianna Fáil)
  • Minister Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Michael McNamara (Labour)
  • Senator Marie Moloney (Labour)
  • Deputy Michael Moynihan (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív (Fianna Fáil)
  • Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fáil)
  • Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Willie O’Dea (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Kieran O’Donnell (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Denis O’Donovan (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy John O’Mahony (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Pat O’Neill (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy John Perry (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Pat Rabbitte (Labour)
  • Minister Michael Ring (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Brendan Ryan (Labour)
  • Senator Tom Sheahan (Fine Gael)
  • Deputy Brendan Smith (Fianna Fáil)
  • Deputy Billy Timmins (Renua Ireland)
  • Deputy Peadar Tóibín (Sinn Féin)
  • Deputy Joanna Tuffy (Labour)
  • Deputy Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)
  • Senator Mary White (Fianna Fáil)
  • Senator Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fáil)

Note: Senator Jimmy Harte (Labour) is in hospital and unable to respond.

- with reporting from Hugh O’Connell

Originally published: 21.30, 16 May 

Related: Politicians tell us why they’re voting Yes or No

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