An estimated 5,000 same-sex marriage supporters have marched in Dublin to show their dissatisfaction with the proposed Civil Partnership Bill.
The Bill, which is due to be debated when the Dáil resumes in the autumn, gives statutory partnership rights to gay and lesbian couples.
However, the legislation stops short of allowing same sex couples to marry.
The Bill contains succession rights, protection of a home that couples share, plus maintenance rights in the event of a separation.
On registration, civil partners will be treated in the same way as spouses under the tax and social welfare codes.
The Bill also gives financial protection to a dependent person of an unmarried opposite sex couple or an unregistered same sex couple at the end of a long-term cohabiting relationship.
