Same-sex marriage decision delayed

Concern in Fine Gael has forced Taoiseach Enda Kenny to delay a Cabinet decision on whether to hold a referendum on extending marriage rights to same-sex couples.

In a setback for Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, ministers did not discuss the issue yesterday, despite confident expectations from Labour that the constitutional poll would be approved at the meeting.

Mr Kenny pushed the decision back to next week’s Cabinet as he sought to shore up support for the move among Fine Gael backbenchers shaken by the rifts caused by the X Case legislation.