Brisk start to voting as country takes to polls

Voting has begun briskly as campaigners bid to make Ireland the first country in the world to introduce gay marriage by popular vote.

In the midlands, turn-out at six polling stations in Laois is averaging 6.3%. It's a similar story across Offaly where the figure a short time ago was 5.9%. And in Westmeath, it's averaging 5%at two polling stations.