A former Fianna Fáil Senator says taxpayers' money being used on the marriage equality and presidential voting age referendums would be better spent on HIV testing for gay people. 

Jim Walsh, who resigned the Fianna Fáil whip last week over his objection to the Children and Family Relationships Bill, made the comments in the Seanad this evening. 

Senator Walsh says a gay man suggested to him at the weekend that the money to run the campaigns could be better spent on HIV testing, given the rise in the number of homosexuals testing positive for the virus.