A fifth attempt to pass a motion in favour of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland will be made in the new Assembly term, it has been announced.

According to the website of the Sinn Féin, which quotes its MLA Caitriona Ruane, the party intends to stick to its previously voiced commitment to see same-sex marriage become a reality in the North in the wake of such moves both in Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

“Sinn Féin gave a commitment to campaign for marriage equality and given the recent moves in both Britain and the South of Ireland we believe the time is right to extend these rights to the north,” Ms Ruane stated. “We have committed to bringing a motion on marriage equality back to the floor of the Assembly and we intend to meet that commitment in the new Assembly term.”

The new Assembly term begins in September. However, it was just last April when a fourth unsuccessful drive was made by Assembly members to introduce same-sex marriage. The motion on that occasion was defeated in a 49-47 poll, with three abstentions.

In a separate motion this week, Sinn Féin criticised the SDLP after an attempt to have councillors of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council back same-sex marriage failed when the sole SDLP councillor abstained from the vote. Sinn Fein described the abstention as a “another let down to the LGBT community”.

However, in a response to that criticism, the SDLP insisted it backs same-sex marriage but added that this must be qualified “with robust protection for faith groups”.