The Government should hold a referendum on the Civil Partnership Bill, according to Senator John Hanafin (pictured) of Fianna Fail.

Speaking in the Seanad this week, Senator Hanafin asked the Leader of the House to hold a debate on a referendum which he believed would be defeated.

He said: “In light of the fact that the Civil Partnership Bill 2009 will soon be before the House, will the Leader allow for a debate on the need for a referendum on this issue? It is almost certain that, should the Bill be passed, it will be challenged in the courts.

“I want to take the opportunity now to show the Judiciary, who watch what we undertake here, that there was no stomach for a referendum because I believe it would not be passed in a referendum. That is why I would strongly call on the Leader and the members of the Green Party to hold this referendum.”

On Tuesday, the Cabinet agreed to extend the qualifying period before cohabiting couples can apply for property, maintenance, pension and other rights under the Civil Partnership Bill from three years to five years.

The amendment was recommended by Justice Minister, Dermot Ahern. However, no consideration was given to a conscience amendment despite calls from the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland as well as individual Protestant ministers for such a clause.

The Civil Partnership Bill creates automatic rights for cohabiting couples unless they enter into a private legal agreement.

Under the Bill as amended, if a cohabiting couple break up after five years or more have passed, one or other can apply for a property or maintenance settlement if it can be demonstrated that an economically dependent relationship has developed between them.

Criticism was leveled at the proposal because of its involuntary nature. Lobbying by the Irish Farmers’ Association is believed to have been instrumental in securing the amendment, after that organisation were loudly critical of the scheme.

The cohabitation provisions of the Bill apply to both heterosexual and homosexual cohabiting couples.

Homosexual couples will also be able to enter a formal civil partnership giving them almost all of the rights of married couples.

The Bill will oblige providers of good and services will to facilitate civil partnerships if asked, regardless of religious convictions. Civil registrars face up to six months in prison if they refuse to register a civil partnership.

Church halls can be fined and sued if they refuse to allow civil partnership receptions to be held on their premises.