On 7 July 2010, he resigned the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party whip, along with Labhrás Ó Murchú and Jim Walsh, in protest at the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 which gave some legal recognition to same-sex couples. He rejoined the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 23 November 2010. In 2015 there was a referendum on full same sex marriage, which passed by 62%.