Walsh: Referendum money would be better spent on HIV testing for gay people

A former Fianna Fáil Senator says taxpayers money being spent on the marriage equality and Presidential voting age referendums would be better spent on HIV testing for gay people.

Jim Walsh, who resigned the Fianna Fáil whip last week over his objection to the Children and Family Relationship Bill, made the comments in the Seanad this evening.

Senator Walsh says a gay man suggested to him at the weekend that the money to run the campaigns could be better spent.

"He said for example, if that money were to be used to provide free HIV testing to people who are homosexual, where there’s an increase now in the numbers infected by HIV, it would be far better expenditure of money," he said.