The qualifying period before cohabiting couples can apply for property, maintenance, pension and other rights under the Civil Partnership Bill was extended from three years to five years at a meeting of the cabinet yesterday.

The amendment was recommended by Justice Minister, Dermot Ahern (pictured). 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.

The scheme has been criticised because of its involuntary nature. The amendment to the Bill was agreed after it was criticised by the Irish Farmers’ Association.

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.

Providers of good and services will be forced 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.