Irish government coalition partners, Fine Gael and Labour Party, are in discussion on when to hold a referendum in the wake of a constitutional group backing marriage equality.

Despite the overwhelming support demonstrated at the Constitutional Convention, the government is not showing signs it will rush to a vote.

Fine Gael sources told the Irish Independent that there is a desire to separate the gay-marriage issue from abortion legislation.

The unnamed source said: ‘It will be interesting to see how Labour will push this. They will want something concrete set out before the local elections.

‘Our fellas will want the two issues separated to make sure there is no confusion and not being seen to be too radical, too quick’.

The Irish independent said the coalition is expected to hold off on a gay-marriage referendum until later next year after the local and European elections.

The government must, however, hold a full debate on the issue in the Oireachtas (Ireland’s parliament) within four months of a report being drawn up.

Ireland’s deputy prime-minister, Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, welcomed the decision of the convention, without committing to hold the referendum within any timeframe: ‘The reason, of course, that we asked the Constitutional Convention to examine this issue was because we felt it was an important issue to be looked at.

‘I believe myself that same-sex couples have the right to marry, I’m glad the Constitutional Convention has recommended that’.

His Labour party colleague, communications minister Pat Rabbitte, said he was not going to be ‘jettisoned into giving a deadline’.

Pressed by the Irish Independent, Rabitte even declined to commit to the referendum being put to the voters in the lifetime of the government.

Justice minister Alan Shatter said there was a ‘reasonable prospect’ that the government would hold a referendum on same sex marriage before the next general election.

However, Shatter said he preferred to update of the law on parentage, guardianship and upbringing of children for gay couples as a first priority.

To this end he said he is preparing a new Family Relationships and Children’s Bill, which will be published soon.

The minister, however, refused to be clear on setting timelines for the referendum.