Deputy Robert Troy.

Troy organises yes equality coffee morning

Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy is to hold a Yes Equality coffee morning in his constituency office in Athlone this Friday, May 15.

Deputy Troy has extended the invitation to the people of Athlone and surrounding areas to come down for an informative coffee morning where questions and concerns will be addressed from 11am to 1pm.

Commenting on the impending referendum Deputy Troy said: “A yes vote in the referendum on May 22 would be an important reaffirmation of the positive role of marriage in our society. Fianna Fáil has been running a nationwide campaign which includes canvassing, public meetings, posters, leaflet drops and a strong online campaign. We believe that extending the right to marry to same sex couples is a basic matter of fairness. It is a further step forward in the task of building a republic which recognises and supports the rights of all of its citizens”.

He continued: “I am very proud that the de-criminalisation of homosexuality, banning of hate speech against homosexuals, equal status protection, employment equality rights and finally, civil partnerships for same sex couples, were all enacted by Fianna Fáil ministers. As a society these changes have strengthened us. By recognising and vindicating the rights of people of different sexual orientations every group has benefited”.

“The challenge in a democratic republic is to understand that you must always be open to change. You can never reach a moment where you say that our laws and attitudes must now be frozen in time. You also must never sit back and be satisfied with the rights you hold if they are denied to others,” concluded Deputy Troy.

The coffee morning will begin at 11am and run until 1pm. The constituency office is located at 95 Sean Costello street, Athlone. For further information, please contact Aideen on 087 7612832 or 044 9334857.