The Social Protection Minister has confirmed that she would turn down an invitation to take part in the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York. The event has been mired in controversy in recent weeks after the new city mayor there, Bill De Blasio, said he was boycotting it over its ban on gay and lesbian groups.

He said last week that he would not march in the Manhattan gathering next month, citing the longstanding tensions with gay and lesbian groups and the prohibition on public displays of gay pride.

"I simply disagree with the organisers of that parade in their exclusion of some individuals in this city" he said in a news conference.

He said he is planning to take part in several other events on that day "to honour the Irish heritage of this city".

He was asked by his supporters to go one step further and request that public city workers - such as firefighters and police officers - should not march in the parade while wearing their uniforms.

The mayor dismissed this request saying, "uniformed city workers have a right to participate if they choose to, and I respect that right," he said.

The parade organisers have said that gays and lesbians are welcome to march but that public displays celebrating being gay would detract from commemorating St. Patrick and Irish heritage.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny says he will be taking part in the festivities.

Minister Joan Burton is also due to travel to New York. But she told Newstalk Breakfast she will not take part until the ban is lifted.