The Justice Minister has welcomed the Court of Appeal dismissing two legal challenges to the marriage equality referendum.

The three judge court rejected the seperate claims of County Clare electrician Gerry Walshe and Kilkenny gardener Maurice J Lyons who claimed the views of those opposed to same sex marriage were not taken into account by Government in the campaign.

The court ruling allows for the returning officer to issue a certificate confirming the result of the referendum on May 22 last.

In a statement tonight, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald notes there is now up to 28 days for either of the cases to be appealed to the Supreme Court on a point of law.

If this doesn't happen the coalition intends putting the relevant legislation through the Dáil and Seanad in the autumn - though it remains unclear exactly when the first same sex marriages could take place.