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Independent Katherine Zappone said the fundamental issue at stake was about the protection of a minoritys right to marry by opening a civil institution, to be protected and be able to become a constitutional family. Photographer: Dara Mac Dnaill /The Irish Times

Legislation to allow for a referendum on same sex marriage has been passed in the Seanad with a standing ovation by many of those supporting the Bill.

The Thirty-Fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality Bill) was accepted by 29 votes to three in the Upper House after a week of sometimes heated debate.

The legislation now goes to the President for signature, having been passed by the Dil without a vote.

The Bill was passed as an opinion poll in The Irish Times showed a 6 per cent drop in support for the introduction of same sex marriage since December when the last poll was conducted. The referendum takes place on Friday, May 22nd.

Support stands at 74 per cent compared to 80 per cent in the last poll. Support for a No vote has risen 6 per cent to 26 per cent, when undecided voters are accounted for.

A number of amendments from Independent Ronn Mullen were rejected including that marriage equality should not have unintended consequences affecting what he called freedom of conscience issues.

Mr Mullen said that as a general principle, it should always be immoral and unlawful to discriminate against a person on grounds of his or her sexual orientation.

However, refusing to provide a service in circumstances which one perceives to link one with something with which one conscientiously disagrees is not the same thing.

He highlighted the case of a bakery in Belfast which refused to provide a cake for a civil partnership and was being prosecuted by what he called the equality people in the North.

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Standing ovation as Seanad passes same sex marriage Bill