ALAN SHATTER HAS become the second senior Government minister to state his support for gay marriage.

Yesterday, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the “time has come” for full marriage equality, adding: “I believe in gay marriage.”

Justice minister Shatter this morning backed his Cabinet colleague, saying: “There is nothing the Tánaiste said with which I would disagree.”

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Shatter added:

I believe that individuals should be able to get on with their lives freely, where their circumstances don’t detrimentally impact on others [...] I fully support equality.

The Tánaiste yesterday stated that same-sex marriage will be included for consideration by the upcoming constitutional convention.

And Alan Shatter confirmed that the constitution was currently a “difficulty” where the introduction of gay marriage is concerned. He said the issue “needs to be addressed” at the constitutional convention.