Gay and lesbian rights campaigners have welcomed a recommendation by a government advisory body that people in same-sex relationships be given civil recognition and rights similar to those of married couples.
The report is to be published this afternoon by the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF).
It says the absence of equal recognition under the law for same sex couples is a substantial barrier to implementing equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Equality Policies for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People: Implementation Issues, also highlights a number of other areas where progress is needed, including equal educational opportunities and community development.
"Great progress has been made since the gay law reform was introduced in 1993 and we now have some of the most progressive equality legislation in Europe," said Mr Chris Robson, co-chair of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN).
"But the next great legislative change necessary is to provide for lesbians and gay men to have their partnerships recognised in law."
GLEN said the report identifies an urgent need for government departments and other agencies to proactively implement the equality legislation.
It also highlights that action by the Department of Education is crucial if lesbian and gay students are to have equality of educational opportunity.
Equal partnership rights would give lesbian, gay and bisexual people the right to nominate a beneficiary for pensions and inheritance purposes, the right to designate a next of kin for medical purposes and the right to nominate a partner as co-parent or guardian of a child.
However, the NESF report stops short of making a recommendation on granting gay and lesbian couples the right to adopt children.
The NESF was set up by the Government in 1993 as a means of achieving consensus, on as wide a basis as possible, on major economic and social policy issues.
In the past five years, its work has focused on evaluating the implementation of policies on equality and social inclusion.