Irish deputy prime minister calls for same-sex marriage referendum Published duration 13 November 2012

image caption Mr Gilmore leads the Irish Labour party in the Republic's coalition government

The Irish deputy prime minister has said the time has come to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry.

Eamon Gilmore had said he would like to see a referendum on the issue of same-sex marriage "as soon as possible".

He told the Republic of Ireland's state broadcaster, RTE, that he believed marriage was "a human right" for same sex couples.

Mr Gilmore said he would like to see the referendum held within the lifetime of the current parliament.

The deputy prime minister - or tanaiste - leads the Irish Labour party which is currently in government with its coalition partner, Fine Gael.

The coalition has set up a constitutional convention to reform the Irish political system.

The Labour leader said a referendum on same-sex marriage would be one of the first issues the new body would discuss at its inaugural meeting next month.