Cabinet set to back vote on extending marriage rights

A referendum on extending marriage rights to same-sex couples was set to be triggered by Cabinet today for late next year or early 2015.

Ministers were expected to accept the recommendation of the Constitutional Convention to hold a national poll on the issue.

The Cabinet was poised to approve the constitutional showdown for some time between Sept 2014 and Apr 2015. The reality of the political timetable means the referendum would either be held in October next year or Mar 2015.