Trinity Hosts Public Forum on the Marriage Referendum
Posted on: 21 May 2015
Trinity College Dublin hosted a public forum on the Marriage Referendum on May 19th last. Chaired by the Registrar, Professor Shane Allwright, the speakers on the panel were:
Ms Marguerite Bolger, Senior Counsel, a regular contributor to the Marriage Equality 2011 Report on the legal shortcomings of civil partnership; Senator John Crown, Independent member of Seanad Éireann and Professor and consultant medical oncologist at St. Vincent’s University Hospital; Mr Gerry Fahey, First Families First and occupational psychologist; Ms Annie Hoey, Vice-President for Equality and Citizenship, Union of Students in Ireland; Mr Barry Jones, Chairman, Stand Up for Marriage; Mr David Martin, a Trinity postgraduate student studying for a Master in Theology; Dr Kris McDaniel-Miccio, Professor of Law at University of Denver and visiting Professor at the School of Law, Trinity, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging the Colorado Constitutional Amendment prohibiting same sex marriage; and Senator Jim Walsh, Independent member of Seanad Éireann and Seanad spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The event was well attended by Trinity students and staff, alumni, the local community and the general public in the Edmund Burke Theatre in the Arts Building. A lively Questions and Answers session followed the panellists’ contributions.
As an institution, the Board of Trinity decided not to adopt a formal position on the referendum. The public forum is an example of Trinity providing a public space where important national issues can be discussed.
VIDEOS
To view a video of each of the speakers’ addresses, please click on their names below. The order of speakers was drawn by lot by the university’s Internal Auditor and a coin was tossed to determine whether a Yes or No speaker addressed the audience first.
Mr John Coman, College Secretary, Words of Welcome
Professor Shane Allwright, Registrar, Introduction
1. Mr Barry Jones, Chairman, Stand Up for Marriage
2. Dr Kris McDaniel-Miccio, Visiting Professor at the School of Law, Trinity
3. Senator Jim Walsh, Independent member of Seanad Éireann
4. Senator John Crown, Independent member of Seanad Éireann
5. Mr David Martin, Master in Theology student, Trinity
6. Ms Marguerite Bolger, Senior Counsel
7. Mr Gerry Fahey, First Families First
8. Ms Annie Hoey, VP for Equality & Citizenship, Union of Students in Ireland