The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says it would be the making of us as a nation if the same-sex marriage referendum is passed next month.

Mr Kenny has launched the Fine Gael party call for a Yes vote on May 22nd.

He says the issue is solely one of civil marriage equality, and has nothing to do with church marriages.

Mr Kenny says a Yes vote would truly define our Republic - and he also claimed the No side are involving issues that are not relevant to the campaign.

While a group campaigning for a No vote in the same-sex marriage referendum is calling on the Taoiseach to take part in a live debate ahead of the referendum next month.

Earlier this year, Enda Kenny said, "I will be very happy to campaign for a Yes vote when the referendum is held in the month of May".

Mothers and Fathers Matter said in a statement today that they are ready for a debate whenever the Taoiseach is.

The group says: "We know Enda Kenny’s handlers may not like the idea of him having to actually debate his reasons for wanting to redefine marriage, so we’re happy to tell them in advance what the main questions he will face in the debate are."

In the statement, Mothers and Fathers Matter lists three questions they would ask Mr Kenny in a debate:

• Mr Kenny, do you believe children have a natural right to know their mother and their father?
• Mr Kenny, do you believe creating a child with the intention that that child will never know its own mother is a good thing, or a bad thing?
• Mr Kenny, was Leo Varadkar wrong when he said that children had a right to a mother and a father, and that this was “more important than the right of two men or two women having a family?” If he was wrong, why was he wrong?

On this, Mr Kenny said he does not want it to become a "party-political debate".

Spokesperson for the Iona Institute Ben Conroy has said there is a significant number of people in Ireland who are against the referendum - and they need to be heard.

“It’s actually not their fault that there is a democratic deficit and the major parties in our Dáíl are just not just representing them,” he said.

Mr Conroy also called on Enda Kenny to take part in a public debate on the issue, saying he would do so if he “is a man of his word.”

“I think if Enda is a man of his word he should debate with a leader from one of the civic society group who are urging a no vote, or with one of the politicians in the Dáil who is also urging a no vote,” Mr Conroy said.

The referendum will be held on May 22nd, with the deadline for registering to vote on May 5th. You can find more information on how to register here.