The Constitutional Convention has handed the government its report which recommends legalising same-sex marriage. The government now has 4 months to respond to the Convention and must arrange a full debate in the Oireachtas.

Last month Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said he expects a referendum on same-sex marriage to take place next year.

In a joint statement today, rights groups Marriage Equality, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) welcomed the delivery of the formal report to the Oireachtas.

In April the Constitutional Convention voted to recommend that the people be asked in a referendum to change the Constitution to provide for full civil marriage for same-sex couples.

Mark Kelly, Director of the ICCL said "The report's message is clear and unequivocal: an overwhelming majority of the delegates to the Convention were convinced that the time is ripe to change the Constitution in order to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from full civil marriage".

Kieran Rose, GLEN Chair added "The Constitutional Convention's support for marriage is echoed in the very strong public and political support for full Constitutional equality for lesbian and gay couples and families, building the great public welcome for civil partnerships throughout the country. It is now time to take the next step and put the issue before the people of Ireland in a referendum."

The government will have to make a decision whether to put this issue to the people of Ireland in a referendum after the 4-month period.

Moninne Griffith of Marriage Equality concluded "Today we call on the Government to implement this positive recommendation as soon as possible. And with recent comments from our Tánaiste saying a referendum on this issue could take place in 2014, the countdown to equality in Ireland for same sex couples, their families and their children begins today".