The UK government confirmed that Northern Ireland will have some free speech and religious liberty protections in place when civil same-sex marriage becomes law in mid-January, followed by religious ceremonies in April.
The Christian Institute had warned the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) that it faced possible legal action if protections were not in place when the law came into force.
Criticism not an offence
Public-order law will be amended to underline that criticism of same-sex marriage is not an offence.
