At a Belfast Pride event, Justin McAleese, the son of former President, Mary McAleese, rolled in on the same-sex marriage debate in Northern Ireland, saying that “faith has no place in secular, registry office marriage”.

Saying the Church of Ireland and Catholic Church was entitled to its definition of marriage, he added that it should not be able to force that view on everyone else in the secular world.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) who have successfully blocked all attempts to introduce same-sex marriage in the province state that Christian marriage is between a man and a woman.

Polls, however, say that over 70% of people in Northern Ireland back same-sex marriage.

“Coming at this debate through the prism of one definition of marriage from the tradition of religion is simply not good enough when you are talking about civil registry office marriage in secular Northern Ireland,” McAleese said.

“We need to talk about marriage… one kind of marriage, everyone equal, that would be progress.”

Justin McAleese, who hopes to win a seat with Fianna Fáil in the next election, also called for a proper debate around sexual health and education in the Republic, claiming the authorities were “away behind” on addressing some of these issues”.

“You should leave school knowing how you can ensure your own sexual health,” he said.

“There is a lot of work to be done but nothing has happened since the referendum.”