Ireland should create civil partnerships that would allow same-sex couples to obtain "marriage-like" privileges, a legislative committee said in a report yesterday.

The all-party committee formed by the Oireachtas, Ireland's national parliament, ruled out any changes in the definition of the family as outlined in the constitution.

But it recommended two amendments to make the constitution more gender neutral, along with legislative changes "aimed at improving the position of cohabiting heterosexual couples, same-sex couples, natural or birth fathers and lone parents".

A law to establish civil partnership would be a major step in conservative, mostly Catholic Ireland. Homosexuality was illegal until 1993, and abortion is outlawed except in cases where the mother's life could be in danger without it.

The United Kingdom introduced civil partnerships late last year and the first women to tie the knot did so in Northern Ireland. Elton John and his partner David Furnish are the most prominent couple so far to make use of the new legislation, which creates partnerships which are not technically marriages. In Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Canada, same-sex couples can marry.

"The Oireachtas should legislate to provide 'marriage-like' privileges to cohabiting same-sex couples provided they do not exceed in any respect those of the family based on marriage," the committee said.

Civil partnerships would also be created for cohabiting heterosexual couples under the committee's proposal.

The report comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed last year by a lesbian couple against the country's tax authority for refusing to recognise their marriage in Canada.

Responding to the lawsuit, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and Justice Minister Michael McDowell spoke in favour of expanding the rights of same-sex couples, while stopping short of endorsing same-sex marriage.