Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar says it is "only a matter of time" before same-sex marriage is made legal in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at a Belfast Pride breakfast on Saturday morning, Ireland's first openly gay leader said he was confident that the country would eventually have equal marriage.

Mr Varadkar said he had attended the event to show solidarity and support for individual freedom and equality.

"It is of course a decision for the Northern Ireland Assembly, but I am confident that like other western European countries they will make that decision in due course," he said.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Garda officers also joined Mr Varadkar at the event where uniformed officers were marching in the Pride parade through the city centre for the first time.


Image: Mr Varadkar joined PSNI and Garda officers at Belfast Pride

Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said the PSNI's presence at the events might encourage victims of hate crime to come forward.

"We represent all sections of society. Members of the LGBT community are a marginalised community in Northern Ireland," she said.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage is still illegal.

The Republic of Ireland voted for equal marriage in a referendum in 2015.

The Parades Commission said 8,000 people were expected to march from Custom House Square, with about 15,000 others lining the route and 60 bands involved.