Leo Varadkar has come out in support of gay marriage. But the Transport and Tourism Minister says that is a personal belief rather than established Fine Gael policy.

Next week the Cabinet will decide on the holding of a referendum, with Labour pushing for it to be held in 2015.

Minister Varadkar says the timing will be key to ensure it is won.

 The Cabinet is due to make a decision on same sex-marriage next week. Ministers are expected to back plans to hold a referendum before 2016.

Earlier this year, the Constitutional Convention voted to recommend the extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples.

Going into a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny was giving nothing away.

"I think the response from the government is due next week, actually...what we said was that we would respond within four months to the recommendations made by the different (Constitutional) Convention reports" he said.

While Labour TD for Dublin North-West, John Lyons, told Newstalk on Wednesday thata referendum is definitely going ahead.