Marriage equality referendum debate to get ‘divisive’

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has predicted that the debate over the marriage equality referendum will become “aggressive and divisive” in the closing days of the campaign.

The Cork TD, who is Fine Gael’s referendum campaign director, accused the no side of “scaring” voters and “using children to frighten” them into voting against the introduction of same-sex marriage.

Senior figures within the Coalition, which advocates a yes vote, yesterday conceded the result could be close, despite polls putting the yes side in the lead with over two thirds of voters. Ex-tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the polls may be “tight and the poll may be low”.