Labour's Pat Rabbitte says he would like to see a referendum on gay marriage in the lifetime of the current government.

However he said there was a heavy schedule of proposed amendments, and the government would have to consider the matter carefully before committing to a time-frame for any new referendum.

He made the remarks after a vote in favour of gay marriage at the Constitutional Convention voted to recommend a referendum on gay marriage.

Speaking in Dublin today, Rabbitte said he would like to see the matter being dealt with during the lifetime of the current government.

"I would certainly like to see us being able to fit it in to the schedule of constitutional amendments but I would emphasise that there is a very heavy schedule there already in terms of commitments to reform and, in particular, go to the people on amendments to the constitution itself."