Thousands are expected to march through Dublin's streets today calling for the introduction of same-sex marriage.

The demonstration is being organised by activist group Noise and Amnesty Ireland and the Union of Students of Ireland will also be present.

The group meet will beside City Hall in Dublin and will march to the Department of Justice on Stephen's Green where there will be a number of speakers.

The Civil Partnership Bill introduced in June gives homosexual couples many of the same statutory rights as married couples.

Many groups including Noise and Amnesty however have said the bill treats gay and lesbians as second-class citizens.

Eloise McInerny is one of the organisers of today's march. She believes the civil-marriage for gay couples is the only way to resolve the issue,

"The civil-partnership bill is not going to give us equality only civil-marriage will give us equality. Civil-partnership continues to discriminate against same-sex couples it won't give us the same rights it's a completely separate institution.

"Civil-partnership is a concept of the nineties, it's something of the past. We've moved on beyond that now and civil marriage is really where we're at."

Ms. McInerny also quoted a survey by Landsdowne market-research which she said shows Irish people want same-sex marriage. She is also asking anyone who supports their cause to turn out for the march,

"Sixty-one per cent of Irish people supported same-sex marriage, 81 per cent believed in equal tratment for gay and lesbian people. So there is absolutely majority support there from the public.

"We've been calling on those people to come out for the march and they've responded to the call. We've got Amnesty International coming out and the Union of Students of Ireland and other groups coming out to march today."