A Cabinet minister says he has no issue with the Garda Representative Association (GRA) backing a Yes vote in the same-sex marriage referendum.

The GRA decision to take a stance on the vote next month follows a controversial photocall involving a member of the force and Catherine McGuinness of the Yes Equality group.

Members of the No campaign criticised the event as 'politicised' - and have pointed to what they say are other photos of uniformed gardaí at pro-same-sex marriage events.

While An Garda Síochana themselves said their participation in the event was "not appropriate".

The Garda Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan said yesterday the force will investigate how a member ended up participating in the photocall.

While Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin says the garda force itself should remain independent - but he has no objection to representative bodies expressing themselves.