Enda Kenny's just confirmed to the Dail that the referendum on marriage equality will be held next Spring.
The Taoiseach has been under pressure to confirm a date for the vote, after promising to hold it in 2015.
Last weekend, record numbers turned out to support the annual Dublin Pride parade.
Eamon Gilmore has previously said that “the right of gay couples to marry is, quite simply, the civil rights issue of this generation".
The most recent survey of potential voters on the issue found the majority of them will vote yes next year.
Published in February, the Red C opinion poll found that 76% would be in favour of allowing LGBT couples to legally marry in Ireland.
Around 5% said they were undecided, while 19% said they were planning to vote against it.
