Views on whether gay marriage should be introduced in Ireland are being debated today by the Constitutional Convention in Malahide in Dublin.

Representatives of religious organisations, human rights groups, and members of the lesbian and gay communities are to address the meeting this afternoon.

A vote will be taken tomorrow on whether the convention will recommend to the Oireachtas to change the constitution.

The meeting this morning has heard from a number of legal representatives including barrister Eimear Browne who has researched the international trends in legalising gay marriage who says both the UK and France are considering legislative amendments.