A consultation on same-sex religious marriage and conversion entitlements in Northern Ireland

The UK government published a consultation on two issues: same-sex religious marriage and the appropriate protections, and conversion entitlements in Northern Ireland - which were open from 20 January - 23 February 2020.

The consultations followed the changes to the law in Northern Ireland made under the powers in section 8(1) of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019, which came into effect on 13 January 2020, and mean that same-sex civil marriage and opposite-sex civil partnerships are now legal in Northern Ireland.

Section 8 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019 allows the Secretary of State to make further regulations covering other related provisions including conversion between civil partnership and marriage (and vice versa), and also for religious same-sex marriage ceremonies and associated religious protections in Northern Ireland.

The Government has been clear that we will regulate on these two matters, to give certainty to same-sex couples who wish to marry in a religious ceremony and religious bodies that wish to perform same-sex marriages, but equally to protect the rights of those religious bodies that do not wish to solemnise marriages between couples of the same sex in Northern Ireland. These regulations will bring Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK in practice.

The Government is continuing to carefully analyse the submissions received during the public consultation on conversion entitlements. We will be working to make regulations to provide conversion entitlements in Northern Ireland as soon as possible before the end of 2020. Further information will be provided in due course.