Today, MLA’s will vote on a new proposal to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

The introduction of gay marriage has been rejected by Assembly Members on four previous occasions, after unionists vetoed the motion through petitions of concern.

This time, the DUP are using another petition of concern, meaning the proposal is set to be rejected even if a majority of MLAs back it.

Meanwhile Faith in Marriage Equality (FiME) have called on the Northern Ireland Assembly to cease being dictated by fundamentalist religious beliefs.

“It is a worrying development in our democracy that the Democratic Unionist Party has said it will use a petition of concern to block any majority in the Assembly on Monday for marriage equality, “ said Dr Richard O’Leary of FiME. “It is time that our political parties cease being dictated to by fundamentalist religious beliefs at the expense of providing equal rights and responsibilities for all under the civil law in Northern Ireland.”

Ten years ago, Northern Ireland became the first part of the UK to allow same-sex civil partnerships. It now remains the only part of the UK and Ireland where same-sex couples are not able to be married.