Sometimes we forget that the role of a constitution should be to limit the scope of government as opposed to the rights of citizens. Currently, on both sides of the Irish border, as far as the individual’s right to marry another human being is concerned, constitutions do just that.

In a radio interview on Sunday, the Irish Republic’s Health Minister Leo Varadkar announced that he was gay; a massive moment in Irish public life, yes, but probably not so much to many of us privately, within our families, neighbourhoods, towns and cities.

Despite differences in jurisdiction, today citizens North and South face similar economic and social prospects and challenges. With a referendum on equal marriage just months away in the Republic, in Northern Ireland we could soon find ourselves left even further behind. In the UK, not just in terms of marriage but also with blood donation our somewhat allocation of human rights is already far, far behind.

Constitutions ought to restrict the state, a bill of rights to protect the individual. America is a case in point, despite its imperfect history. Contrast health ministers of Ireland, North and South; in the Republic, theirs tend to operate on the basis of facts, in the North ours often on personal preference. Arguments for a bill of rights both in the North and Republic are as relevant as ever.