A group representing some teachers and parents have said that if the referendum on same-sex marriage passes it could have “major consequences” for educators, although if there was clarification from the Department of Education regarding the effects of a Yes vote then many of their members could “absolutely” vote Yes.

Educators for Conscience spokesperson Kevin Leavy spoke to Pat Kenny this morning. The group has called for a No vote, saying they fear teachers could be forced to teach material that is “age-inapproprtiate”. In a statement released last Friday the group said that if the referendum is passed then: "gender-neutral marriage would be elevated to a new status in the Constitution, and employees of the State would be obliged to protect that new model of marriage".

"As teachers, our fear is that for example, a teacher who gives preferential treatment to a view of marriage as between a man and woman over a same-sex marriage will be seen to be discriminating"

“The main concern is that the profound nature of the change to the constitution ... if the referendum passes, could have pretty major consequences,” Mr Leavy told Pat Kenny today.

Mr Leavy said he had spoken to a mother who told him she worried about the consequences for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, if the referendum passes, as there may be a fear of offending some people.

“What teachers are saying is that in the classroom if they draw a distinction between marriage between a man and a woman and marriage between same-sex couples, could that be seen as offensive?,” Mr Leavy said.

Mr Leavy said one of the main concerns of the group is that they have not been further informed by the Department of Education regarding what consequences a Yes vote might have on their teaching.

“We’ve gotten no kind of enlightenment from the department or from the Minister and the only thing that seems to be in the public domain is a document from the INTO”

Pat Kenny asked Mr Leavy if, in the event there was further clarification from the Department of Education, then some members of the Educators for Conscience group might vote Yes: “Oh absolutely, we’re a kind of a loose affiliation if you like” Mr Leavy said.

Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan earlier today told Newstalk that teaching regarding relationships will not change, and has said claims that it will change are “scaremongering.”

Speaking to Newstalk Lunchtime today, Ms OSullivan said: "This is entirely scaremongering, it's throwing up red herrings now that have nothing to do with the referendum. This referendum is about giving people the right to marry if they're gay. That is all it is about quite simply and all these other issues that are being thrown up are not part of what is being put to the people.

"Justice Kevin Cross has clearly said that and said that in a number of issues that have been raised by the 'No' side."

"It is not anything to do with school curriculum or the way in which schools deal with issues.

"The wording of the referendum is very simple. It is simply to allow a person to get married irrespective of their sex,” she added.

Listen below to Kevin Leavy of Educators for Conscience speaking to The Pat Kenny Show: