Curbs on partners a barrier for gay exiles hoping to come home
Monday December 10 2007
Edel Kennedy
A GROWING number of Irish emigrants are being put off returning to Ireland -- because they can't bring their gay partner with them.
The Gay Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) said the issue of foreign partners of Irish nationals not being allowed to live or work here is their biggest problem area.
Spokesman Eoin Collins said the number of calls to the organisation on the issue in the past two years has doubled.
"Irish people who have a partner from outside the EU, such as Canada or the US, are having huge problems," he said.
"We are working with somebody at the moment who is employed as a software engineer in Canada. He has been with his partner for 10 years and they're married.
"The Irish man wants to return to Ireland but if he does, his partner can only work if he gets a work permit. And the employer can only get him one if he proves that he offered the job to almost everyone in Europe."
It is also problematic for Irish people who are still living here but have entered into a relationship with a foreign national. Often their partner cannot remain here as they cannot climb the career ladder.
Mr Collins used the example of an Irish man who has been dating an Israeli man for seven years. The Israeli is a qualified architect -- but can't get the correct stamps on his passport to work at his trade.
"It's definitely turning people off returning to Ireland. They fear that if they do return, that their partners' status will cause tension in the relationship."
He said that someone who has a career will quickly become frustrated if they are not allowed to work -- or have to do menial work instead of practising their profession.
However last week the Government ruled out the introduction of legally recognised gay marriage. Minister of State for Equality, Sean Power, said the special protection afforded to marriage under the Constitution meant it could not legislate to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples. But he repeated the Government's commitment towards bringing a Bill on civil partnership for same sex couples early next year.
Legal experts were divided as to whether there are constitutional issues which would affect any attempts to introduce civil marriage for same-sex couples.
Mr Collins added that all they want is equal status with other people in society.
