Gay couples to get equal rights
Tuesday July 17 2007
GAY couples are to be given the same legal rights as other couples during the course of the current Dail, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern confirmed yesterday.
Under a new civil partnership law, gay and co-habiting couples will be entitled to the same tax breaks, social welfare benefits, pension schemes and inheritance rights as married couples have now, he said.
The new government coalition was committed to providing full equality to same-sex couples and would like to have legislation enacted as soon as possible to make this a reality, Mr Ahern said at the re-launch of a gay community centre - Outhouse on Capel Street, Dublin, which has survived two arson attacks.
However, he stopped short of calling for the referendum required to amend the Constitution if Ireland were to legalise gay marriage, as Canada and other liberal countries have done.
Under the Constitution, only marriages between a man and woman are legally recognised here. However, the Supreme Court is due to hear a challenge to the law after a lesbian couple failed in their High Court bid to have their Canadian marriage recognised in Ireland.
"This Government is committed to providing a more supportive and secure legal environment for same-sex couples. Taking into account the Options Paper prepared by the Colley Group, and the pending Supreme Court case, we will legislate for civil partnerships at the earliest possible date in the lifetime of this Government," he said.
Outhouse manager Louise Tierney said the lack of recognition of gay relationships was discriminatory and called for immediate action. "The lack of recognition of same-sex relationships is a barrier to real equality. It engenders discrimination and puts gay people at distinct disadvantage when it comes to basic rights around inheritance," she said.
But opposition parties poured cold water on Mr Ahern's promises, claiming they have heard it all before.
Labour's justice spokesman Brendan Howlin said the Fianna Fail-PD coalition voted down a private member's bill he introduced in the Dail last year that would legalise civil unions amongst gay couples.
"We regard the actions of the last government, especially (former Justice Minister Michael) McDowell as being disingenuous to promise yet not deliver."
"The Civil Union bill would be law by now if the Government had not rejected it," he said.
Fine Gael also said Mr Ahern's promises were "all talk and no action".
A spokesperson said: "Fianna Fail has broken every promise they've ever made on civil partnership and I have no reason to believe that this promise will be any different to the one that the Taoiseach made in April 2006."
- Allison Bray
