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19 Jul 2010
Despite the rumours, the President signed the Civil Partnership Bill this morning and it is now the law of the land. Congratulations gays.
Here is the statement from the Department of Justice and Law Reform:
Ahern Welcomes Coming Into Law of Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010
The Minister for Justice & Law Reform, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., welcomed the coming into law of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010.
President Mary McAleese this morning signed the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009. Minister Ahern said: "This is one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation to be enacted since independence. Its legislative advance has seen an unprecedented degree of unity and support within both Houses of the Oireachtas.
This Act provides enhanced rights and protections for many thousands of Irish men and women. Ireland will be a better place for its enactment. This new law provides, for the first time, legal recognition for same-sex couples in Ireland. It is of tremendous social significance, for the couples who can now register as partners, for their friends and families - ultimately, for all of us."
The Act also provides for a cohabitants' redress scheme, which will provide a 'safety-net' for financially dependent long-term cohabitants on the end of a relationship.
It is expected that changes to the tax and social welfare code will be made in the next finance and social welfare Bills. The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 is expected to be commenced when those changes take effect.
civil partnership
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ireland
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18 Jul 2010
My spies tell me that the President is indeed going to refer the bill, as we speculated previously. Though obviously, we will need to wait a couple of more days to see for sure.
civil partnership
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ireland
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6
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16 Jul 2010
With regard to my previous post about he possibility of the President referring the Civil Partnership Bill to the Supreme Court to test it's constitutionality, I decided to get my Lois Lane on and do some digging. I spoke to a number of people who are well placed to know what the lay of the land is.
While none of my sources claim to know the President's mind, the general consensus is that the rumour has some credibility, and may not necessarily be a bad thing.
The President has 7 days after receiving the bill to sign it, or refer it to the court, after having first convened and consulted with the Council Of State. It is thought that Mary got the bill on Wednesday, and she did not sign it immediately. However, as of time of writing (Friday afternoon) my mole in the Seanad tells me she has not convened the Council of State - though she still has time.
Even if she does convene the council, she may simply decide to sign the bill after consulting with them, but if she does refer the bill, the court has 60 days to make a decision - still well within the expected timeframe for Civil Partnerships to start in Dec/Jan.
Two of the people I spoke to believe that the President's concern - if indeed she has one - is most likely with the cohabitation part of the bill with regard to heterosexual couples, rather than with the civil partnership for gays section.
So, if the President does refer the bill to the court, is this necessarily a bad a thing? No.
It is well known that the right-wing are preparing to challenge the bill anyway, and are raising the money necessary to do so. If the bill were referred, and the court found that it is constitutional, this would have the effect of bullet-proofing the bill from a legal challenge, and do so before the anti-gay nuts have a chance to gather their greasy coppers together to mount a challenge.
Anyway, as I said, Mary only has a few days left to sign the bill or refer it to the court, so we won't have long to wait to see what happens.
civil partnership
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ireland
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16 Jul 2010
It is only a rumour, but for the third time in the past twenty four hours I've heard the same one: that the President is going to refer the Civil Partnership Bill to the Supreme Court on the basis that it may be constitutionally unsound. Mary is of course supportive of gay rights, but it is her constitutional duty to do so if she has any concerns about the constitutionality of any bill brought to her to sign.
I stress that this is just rumour, and you know what this small country is like for rumours! So we'll just have to wait and see. If it does turn out to be true, I guess there are two ways (at least!) of looking at it. In the short term, it would certainly be a set-back. But, in the longer term, it could be argued that it might be a quicker route to full marriage equality, as the head of steam that has built up behind the CP Bill, and indeed behind marriage equality around the world, could be harnessed to make any constitutional change necessary (if necessary- we've discussed that before) to introduce gay marriage.
We shall see. As I said, it's just a rumour.
marriage equality
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civil partnership
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ireland
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11 Jul 2010
Not that it matters, but the Bishop of Elphin Christopher Jones, the walking anachronism in the pic above, thinks the Civil Partnership Bill will lead to the end of the world as we know it.
If that means the end of the world where anyone gives a toss what that old fool thinks, then I say, "Bring it on!" The sooner the better.
The Independent reports:
A LEADING Catholic Bishop has hit out at the Civil Partnership Bill, warning that it will lead to a breakdown of society and more crime.
Bishop of Elphin Christopher Jones also claimed the bill, which gives legal status to cohabitees and gay couples, goes against the Constitution, which has recognised marriage "through the decades".
"That means that our State or our Government is obliged to protect and care for marriage and for family founded on marriage," he said.
Read the rest.
religion poisons everything
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civil partnership
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nuts
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ireland
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09 Jul 2010
After the marathon 23 hour debate in the upper house, and the bill's eventual passage by an overwhelming 48 - 4 vote (despite the delaying antics of the preposterous Senator Mullen) the bill will now go to the President for her signature (don't worry, she'll gladly sign it).
There will need to be a few adjustments made to social welfare and tax codes to take account of the new legislation before civil partnerships can actually take place, but the necessary changes are expected to happen in the December budget, making it likely that partnerships will be available from January.
The Irish Times has a report on the bills historic passage.
civil partnership
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ireland
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08 Jul 2010
The Civil Partnership Bill has passed all stages, final vote 48 - 4.
Any way you cut it, a pretty historic day.
The bill will now go to the President for her signature.
civil partnership
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08 Jul 2010
(4:25pm) After a long, painful, occasionally angry debate, constantly filibustered by Senator Ronan Mullen (on the "conscience" clause mostly), they have voted to "guillotine" the debate at 4:30.
UPDATE: (4:31pm) The bill, unamended, will go to vote after a break. House to reconvene at 5:00, and all should be done and dusted by 6:00.
Watch HERE.
civil partnership
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08 Jul 2010
It was a valiant effort, but Senator Mullen and Co and their stupid not-a-hope-in-hell's-chance-of-passing amendments finally scuppered the Civil Partnership Bill for the night at 1:15am. They will reconvene at 10:30am. Tomorrow, barring an act of an anti-gay god, will see the passage of the bill. Follow the proceedings HERE.
civil partnership
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07 Jul 2010
I've been watching the debate in the Seanad and I have to say it's been a good debate,with intelligent contributions on both sides and some rousing speeches, especially from a righteously angry Eoghan Harris.
The order of business appears to have been changed, and it would appear Ireland may have civil partnership for gay couples before bedtime. Well, pending the Presidential signature.
This wan outside Leinster House today won't be happy.
(pic by @Lexia)
civil partnership
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ireland
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