The Fine Gael parliamentary party will discuss the referendum on same-sex marriage at its meeting this evening.

A number of Fine Gael TDs have expressed the fear of “referendum fatigue”

and a concern that unless there is overwhelming public support that the Government could face another defeat from a disgruntled electorate.

Speaking in advance of the meeting today Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said he believed there would be substantial popular support for the proposal, adding that there are "very few people today in Ireland who don't have a friend or neighbour or relation who is gay".

Mr Shatter said he hoped that there would be substantial support for the proposal from the Fine Gael parliamentary party.

The Cabinet agreed yesterday to hold a referendum on same sex marriage before the summer of 2015, accepting a recommendation from Mr Shatter that they should follow the advice of the Constitutional Referendum and put the issue of same sex marriage to the people.

It is now expected that same sex marriage and a number of other proposed constitutional changes including a reduction in the voting age to 17 will be put to the electorate in May 2015.

Mr Shatter said today he was not surprised by the reaction of the Catholic Church to the proposals.

He said there was a need to “address these issues based on reality and what is currently happening within our society.

“We have individuals of different sexual orientation there is a great deal more understanding of this than there was many years ago.”

Minister for Children Francis Fitzgerald she supported the proposal and said many other countries had legislated for same sex marriage.

“I think it’s important that the public are very clear about the kind of legislation that would be changed, would be in place following a referendum: the whole area of guardianship, family relationships and adoption, all of those areas, we need a serious debate about all of those and good quality information and I would hope it would a very respectful debate.”

“I think it is a huge equality issue and I think it’s the right decision for this time and I look forward to the public debate around it.”