Civil Partnership Bill to be debated in early December
Tags: Civil Partnership Bill 2009, civil prtnership, Dermot Ahern TD, equality, lgbt noise, marriage 
John Gormley, Leader of the Green Party, with Kieran Rose, chairman of Gay Lesbian Equality Network, at the publication of the Civil Partnership Bill in July this year. Government coalition partners, The Green Party, still favour equality for same-sex couples through civil marriage.
After months of waiting and years of toiling by the LGBT community, the day is finally drawing nearer for the Civil Partnership Bill to be debated and amended, rejected or approved in the Dáil and the Seanad. It is now due to be introduced in early December [also]. It is bound to be one of the most contentious debates held in the Oireachtas this year and is going to be a helluva lot more interesting than NAMA.
You can read the Bill, follow its progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas and read debates and amendments relating to it on the Oireachtas website. Alternatively, if you aren’t interested in trawling through 118 pages of legalese, you can peruse the more accessible and succinct 25-page explanatory document which has been circulated to members of the Oireachtas. Thanks to blogger Maman Poulet, it can be viewed here.
It’ll be interesting to see what TDs and Senators make of the Bill. Some opposers will be towing the “It’s an abomination! Won’t somebody think of the children?!” line of “reason”. Ironically, others will criticise the bill for not recognising the needs of children, and also other issues, e.g. taxation. Conversely, those speaking in favour of the Bill will hopefully be pressed to expound upon their reasons for supporting a Bill that creates second-class status and restricted legal recognition for same-sex couples. Of course, as the bill is being debated, it can also be amended which means additional rights and responsibilities can be included or existing ones expected to be conferred can be deleted. In Summer 2008, UN Human Rights Committee expressed concern that the Civil Partnership Bill does not address existing inequality in the Irish taxation and social welfare systems. The Committee recommended that the Government “ensure that its legislation is not discriminatory of non-traditional forms of partnership, including taxation and welfare benefits” (via Rights Monitor). This may give impetus to amendments to redress these areas at least.
If you want to see the debate live as the Bill is laid before the Dáil by the Minister for (in)Justice, you can either observe from the Dáil gallery by contacting Leinster House in advance (Be warned though: just because the TDs may be making heckling or supportive noises doesn’t mean you can join in. Silence is strictly demanded of visitors to the gallery) and registering your name to attend, or watch it online here.
LGBT Noise will also be holding a demonstration against the Bill to convey the community’s dissatisfaction with second-class status. The details of the demonstration shall be announced once the Bill’s scheduling has been confirmed. Keep an eye on LGBT Noise’s website for more information and details of the event as they emerge.
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And yet, and yet..
“[I]t is hoped that [the Bill] will be before the House in the coming weeks” – An Tánaiste (deputy Prime Minister) speaking in Dáil Éireann on 15th October 2009.
( see http://bit.ly/3vc8Lq )
“Hopefully, the first week in December.” – An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) speaking in Dáil Éireann on 17th November 2009.
( see http://bit.ly/1ne9yu and http://bit.ly/1hTfo5 )
Can we be convinced of this?
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by greenparty_ie: Civil Partnerships Bill to be debated in early December http://bit.ly/1QlxMX (via @gaelick, @humanrightsblog)…
Oh lordy, I doubt it, Click Here! At the time of the Bill’s publication – back in July – John Gormley and Dermot Ahern both said the Bill would be before the Houses before the year was out. But the Dáil schedule shows no BIlls are up for debate until December and there are no details of which bills in December. However, I reckon it is likely to be heard in December. It’d be handy distraction from the budget fallout for the Government.
Oh yay, I’m so looking forward to our inequality, finally and grudgingly, being written into law! Won’t that be something to behold?!
*Sigh*
(No doubt RTE will footage of gays taking to the streets to celebrate on the six one news.)
But also remember that the finance and social welfare parts of it will be debated in December (as part of budget)
Have you seen any commitment to that, Ian? These provisions are supposed to be introduced by way of a Finance & Social Welfare Bill but so far, I’ve seen no details of such provisions. And budget day is getting awfully close!
I can’t see any way they can include these matters in the Finance Bill until they have actually passed the legislation for Civil Partnerships. Which I strongly believe means it’ll be next year at the earliest before the relevant finance and social welfare measures are introduced.
News just in:
“As previously flagged in tweets and just agreed, Civil Partnership Bill will be on Dail’s order of business next Thursday (3 Dec). #cpbill”
(via the Green Party on Twitter)
(via Twitter)
“Civil Partnership Bill for 2 hour second stage debate on Thursday 3rd at 6.45pm #cpbill“
[...] year, by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. A couple of weeks ago, our own Orange flagged the mention by Taoiseach Brian Cowen that the Bill would be debated, “Hopefully, in the first week of [...]