Plans to grant legal recognition to same-sex couples should be based on principles of equality and introduced as soon as possible, according to the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen).
Responding to the Government's plans to recognise same-sex relationships, Glen chairman Kieran Rose said his preference was for Labour's proposal on civil unions.
The Government, which says Labour's proposal runs counter to explicit recognition given to the family based on marriage in the Constitution, has promised to make proposals by next March to provide a significant degree of equality and provide legal protection for economically dependent cohabitants on termination of a same-sex relationship.
Legislation proposed by the Labour Party this week provides that the laws applying to marriage would also apply to civil unions.
Mr Rose said Glen was composed of principled pragmatists who were "not hung up on ideology" and wanted to get people's lives sorted out.
The Government had asked for more time to deal with the issue and now it was looking for another four months, he told RTÉ radio. Yet there was all-party consensus, all the research had been done and the issue had been analysed "inside out".
The choice for the Government was to provide for equality either in the form of full civil marriage for same-sex couples or through a civil union Bill in the manner proposed by Labour, he said.
Mr Rose said thousands of people were waiting for legislation and it was unfortunate that so many from the Republic had had to travel to the North to have their relationships recognised.
He described the stance of the Greens, which in opposition had supported civil unions but now backed the Government position, as unfortunate but acknowledged difficult issues were involved.
