The Government was tonight urged to act immediately to give same sex couples equal rights rather than just discussing the issue.
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has promised to consider granting them legal recognition for tax and inheritance purposes but Fine Gael Senator Sheila Terry said he should stop "mouthing platitudes" and act to give them the equality they deserve.
She claimed Fine Gael's Civil Partnership Policy offered a workable template that, if enacted, would give registered heterosexual and same-sex couples equality with married couples in areas such as taxation, inheritance, pensions, next of kin status, residency, workplace entitlements and property rights.
Mr Ahern has admitted that making same sex marriage legal was not going to happen "in the short, medium or longer term" but he said the most pressing issue was to develop fairer tax codes.
"I don't think the issue of marriage arises but I do think some of the other issues should be carefully looked at because there is a case to examine them," he said.
Despite the move towards law reform, Ms Terry pressed for actions rather than words.
"Rather than just saying we want change, we have explained how we will do it," she added.
The Senator accused the Government of blurring the lines between civil partnership and marriage, claiming that a constitutional referendum would not be needed to grant such rights to same sex couples.
She said both were separate entities and the provision of civil partnership did not represent an attack on marriage, as prohibited by the constitution.
"By requiring couples to register and not just conferring these rights automatically on cohabiting couples, the so-called `burden' on the State will also be less than the figures quoted in the media, not that cost should be a barrier to equality," she said.
"It is time for the Taoiseach to put his money where his mouth his. He should accept our proposals or come up with his own, otherwise, his equality agenda remains firmly in the closet."
The issue was propelled into the limelight last week when the High Court granted a lesbian couple the right to bring legal action to have their Canadian marriage recognised in Ireland and to have the same tax rights as heterosexual married couples.
- PA