Gilmore support for same-sex marriage 'an historic turning point'

Lobby group Marriage Equality has welcomed the Tánaiste's support for same-sex marriage in Ireland.

The group which campaigns for equal rights for same-sex couples said the support voiced publicly by Minister Eamon Gilmore today marked an historic turning point.

Deputy Gilmore said he believed in gay marriage and called this issue of gay marriage "the civil rights issue of this generation".

A poll earlier in the year found that 73% of Irish people believed that same-sex marriage should be allowed under the Irish constitution.

Speaking in Dublin today, chairwoman of Marriage Equality Grainne Healy said they would like to see the Taoiseach Enda Kenny follow the Tánaiste's lead.

"Enda Kenny was very strong and brave when he made his statement about how the Church had let the children of Ireland down because of the clerical sexual abuse," she said.

"We would see that he's a man who has courage and backbone, and we would like to see him make a statement on this issue.

"Apart from Fine Gael, all the other political parties in Ireland are in favour of same-sex marriage."