Enda Kenny has declined to publicly support gay marriage, despite the Tánaiste's statement at the weekend that gay marriage was "the civil rights issue of our time".

The Taoiseach said he could only speak as leader of the country and the issue was to be discussed by the Constitutional convention.

As leader of the opposition in 2007, Enda Kenny voiced his opposition to same-sex marriage.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin this afternoon, the Taoiseach said: "The Government has put in place a process by which this will be discussed as part of the Constitutional convention.

"That process will start next week when we set up the convention."