An advisor to the Australian Liberal Party has launched an anti-Irish tirade, after members of the opposition called for a vote on gay marriage there.

Speaking yesterday on Sky News Australia, Grahame Morris made several claims about Ireland and the Irish people.

"The trigger was a vote in Ireland - I love the Irish and half the parliament's full of Irishmen, but these are people who can't grow potatoes, they've got a mutant lawn weed as their national symbol and they can't verbalise the difference between a tree and the number three" he said.

Mr Morris was complaining after a member of the opposition, Tanya Plibersek, had said her party was going to put up a vote on same-sex marriage, following the vote here.

The Australian Labour Party has introduced a bill to parliament. But Mr Morris says it's all Ireland's fault.

Mr Morris has more than 30 years’ association with the Liberal and National Parties around Australia.

He has also served as parliamentary adviser to Liberal leaders Andrew Peacock and Alexander Downer - and as Chief of Staff to former Prime Minister, John Howard.

Listen to an excerpt of his interview here.