There has been a 12 percentage point increase in support of same-sex civil marriages since 2008, according to a new poll.

The poll, which was carried out in late 2012 by Millward Brown Lansdowne for Marriage Equality, shows 75 per cent of people would vote yes in a referendum to extend civil marriage to same-sex couples. In 2008, 63 per cent of respondents said they would vote yes.

The only age range where the majority of people said they would vote no is the over-65s, which went from 27 per cent in 2008 to 43 per cent.

A further two out of three people said they felt Ireland’s reputation as a modern society will be strengthened by allowing same-sex couples to have civil marriages, while three out of five people agree that allowing same-sex couples to have civil marriages will promote a more tolerant environment in Ireland.

When asked about adoption, 69 per cent of people agree that being raised in a loving home by parents is a more significant factor for a child’s wellbeing than being raised by a mother and a father. A total of 54 per cent agree that same-sex couples should be legally allowed to jointly adopt a child.

Marriage Equality director Moninne Griffith said she is thrilled that support for same-sex civil marriage is so high, when the Constitutional Convention is due to discuss the move in April.

“We are delighted the Constitutional Convention has established a date for the issue of providing for marriage equality, and that it is one of the first issues to be considered after this weekend’s meeting,” she said.

“Public support for marriage equality has increased year-on-year. When we began our work in 2006, 51 per cent of people believed same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. That figure has grown 25 per cent in just six years, to a full three-quarters of the population today.”