The non-biological parents of children being raised by same-sex couples will be allowed to form legal ties with those children under new proposals made by Justice Minister Alan Shatter (pictured).

Speaking at a meeting of Fine Gael’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Group on Tuesday night, Mr Shatter said that the law needed to be changed to “ensure that children in lesbian or gay family units are able to form a legal connection with their non-biological parent and that kindred relationships flow from such legal connection.”.

The Irish Independent reports that Mr Shatter announced a comprehensive Family Relationships and Children Bill, to be enacted by the end of 2013, which will provide for relationships of guardianship, custody and access for children in lesbian and gay headed families.

He said that reforms would also be made to guardianship, custody and access laws and to ensure maintenance and inheritance rights for the children of civil partners.

The Government’s Constitutional Convention is set to be examine the issue of whether the Constitution should be changed to provide for same-sex marriage.

In 2010, legislation permitting same-sex couples to enter civil partnerships which provided the majority of the rights associated with marriage was passed by the Oireachtas.

However same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt children jointly, although individual homosexual persons are allowed to apply to adopt children.

Mr Shatter claimed that the absence of any reference to adoption was “one of the great gaps” in the 2010 legislation.

“I am acutely aware that we need to reform family law to secure equal citizenship for lesbian and gay parents and the best interests of their children,” he said.

The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) welcomed the proposals.

GLEN’s Brian Sheehan claimed that “the lack of legal certainty….and the lack of protection and security for their children” was an urgent issue for same-sex parents.

Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister David Cameron and his Coalition partner, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have reportedly agreed to speed up legislation to allow gay marriage, meaning it could be approved in the coming weeks.

The proposed change in the law is now expected to be voted on in Parliament in the New Year after the Prime Minister decided to rush it through, the Daily Telegraph reports.Downing Street said originally that same sex civil marriage would be introduced at some stage before the next General Election and there was no mention of the proposed legislation in the last Queen’s Speech.

But a senior source told the Daily Mail: “The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister have agreed to get on with it

“It was in danger of slipping beyond the General Election.

“David Cameron’s view of this is ‘get it done and get it done quickly’.

Mr Cameron has promised to legislate to allow gay couples to marry in civil ceremonies, while not forcing the changes on the Church.