Councillors in Belfast have agreed to back same-sex marriage in a symbolic vote.

After the Republic of Ireland voted unanimously to back equal marriage, Northern Ireland remains one of of the few parts of the British Isles where same-sex couples cannot marry.

Councillors in the capital of Belfast voted 38 to 13 in favour of allowing same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

Alliance’s Emmet McDonough-Brown proposed the motion as a reaction to Republic’s referendum.

He said: “The sky has not fallen in. All that happens is that people who want to commit to each other are able to.”

Amnesty International welcomed the vote. Northen Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said in a statement: “This overwhelming vote in favour of civil marriage for same-sex couples by Northern Ireland’s largest council shows how far opinion has shifted in favour of equality for the LGBTI community.

“That same spirit of equality now needs to be demonstrated by the Northern Ireland Assembly, so that this region will not be the only part of the UK or Ireland without civil marriage for same-sex couples.”

Westminster MPs yesterday signed a cross-party motion to call on Northern Ireland to introduce same-sex in line with the other countries of the United Kingdom.