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25/06/2008
Ireland To Introduce Civil Partnerships
Same sex partnerships will for the first time have the opportunity to be legally recognised in Ireland with the introduction of a new bill.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has announced the move on Tuesday, and opened up the proposed policy for public perusal. Interested members of the public can view the heads of the bill and submit their views to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The Scheme, following in the footsteps of the recent UK decision to introduce civil partnerships, will establish a statutory mechanism for registration of same-sex partnerships, and set out the duties and responsibilities of registered partners.
Announcing the publication, Minister Ahern said: "This is a major milestone in the implementation of the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government to legislate for Civil Partnerships.
"This legislation is keenly awaited by many cohabiting couples, and will be of great benefit both to same-sex and opposite-sex cohabiting couples."
The law will mean greater rights for same sex couples who are presently not afforded the same rights legal entitlements of married couples, and create a new legal relationship for same-sex couples to end only on the death of a partner or dissolution by a court. The bill also sets out the legal position on a range of property, financial and other matters already dealt with in heterosexual marriages, including maintenance, shared home, succession, taxation, social welfare schemes and pension rights.
Mr Ahern added: "This Bill also represents a recognition by Government of the many forms of relationships in modern society, and an important step very particularly for same-sex couples, whose relationships have not previously been given legal recognition."
The Scheme of the Civil Partnership Bill may be viewed on the Department's website www.justice.ie.
(DW/JM)
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has announced the move on Tuesday, and opened up the proposed policy for public perusal. Interested members of the public can view the heads of the bill and submit their views to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The Scheme, following in the footsteps of the recent UK decision to introduce civil partnerships, will establish a statutory mechanism for registration of same-sex partnerships, and set out the duties and responsibilities of registered partners.
Announcing the publication, Minister Ahern said: "This is a major milestone in the implementation of the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government to legislate for Civil Partnerships.
"This legislation is keenly awaited by many cohabiting couples, and will be of great benefit both to same-sex and opposite-sex cohabiting couples."
The law will mean greater rights for same sex couples who are presently not afforded the same rights legal entitlements of married couples, and create a new legal relationship for same-sex couples to end only on the death of a partner or dissolution by a court. The bill also sets out the legal position on a range of property, financial and other matters already dealt with in heterosexual marriages, including maintenance, shared home, succession, taxation, social welfare schemes and pension rights.
Mr Ahern added: "This Bill also represents a recognition by Government of the many forms of relationships in modern society, and an important step very particularly for same-sex couples, whose relationships have not previously been given legal recognition."
The Scheme of the Civil Partnership Bill may be viewed on the Department's website www.justice.ie.
(DW/JM)
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