Mr Byrne has urged the ALP to adopt a position on same-sex marriage.

An Irish Labour TD has urged the Australian Labor Party to legislate for same-sex marriage.

Eric Byrne, a sitting TD for Dublin South Central, said that recent civil partnership legislation in Ireland ‘has strengthened the cause of marriage equality’ there.

Mr Byrne urged the ALP to implement a same-sex marriage policy in a piece written for independent news website New Matilda on November 25.

“I know that a debate is taking place in Australia on the same issue and I note that our brothers and sisters in the Australian Labor Party are torn as to what to do. I would urge them to look into their hearts,” writes Byrne.

Mr Byrne says that the Australian party and its Irish counterpart share common values of ‘freedom, community, democracy and equality’.

“We can only ensure that gay and lesbian citizens are truly free, truly a valued part of our communities and truly able to play a full democratic role in our societies when we say that henceforth all will be afforded equality of treatment and in the case of marriage, equality can only be achieved when all couples, opposite sex or same sex can stand their families and friends and enter a fully equal marriage,” he writes.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said last month that Labor MPs would be allowed to introduce their own legislation for same-sex marriage.

However, she added that a conscience vote would also be allowed, meaning individual MPs could vote on any measures in line with their own views rather than one agreed upon by the party.