Revealed: Jolly John's pride and joy
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JOHN Gormley was the very picture of contentment as he arrived at the offices of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Networks (GLEN) yesterday afternoon.
He was suffused with a post-legislation glow and nothing, not even pesky questions from the media, was going to spoil his good vibrations.
For tucked under the oxter of the Environment Minister was the brand-new Civil Partnership Bill which had just been published by his colleague, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern.
Accompanied by fellow Greens, Dun Laoghaire TD Ciaran Cuffe and Roderic O'Gorman, deputy chairman of the party's national council, John Gormley strode into the pretty, sun-filled courtyard, with the air of a man who has ticked off one big item on his To Do list.
The trio were warmly greeted by Brian Sheehan, the director of GLEN and also the organisation's chairman, Kieran Rose -- a reception which must've warmed their Green souls after the big chill their party experienced in this month's local and European elections.
The Bill has been a major pet project of the Greens since they entered government two years ago, and provides for extensive rights and responsibilities for same-sex couples who register their civil partnership across a whole range of issues, such as succession, protection of their shared home, immigration, pensions and taxation.
The group happily posed for photographs, with Ciaran Cuffe directing operations; "We should get a shot of us handing over the report," he suggested, clutching the 118-page, hot-off-the-presses document.
Kieran Rose was swift in his thanks to all concerned. "This will solve many immediate and pressing issues faced by lesbian and gay couples," he said.
"The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, the Government and the Green Party as part of that government are to be congratulated for bringing forward this complex and comprehensive legislation".
Proud papa John Gormley was all but reaching for a cigar to celebrate Bill's birth. Some taken-aback reporters thought the minister was asking if we wanted "a cuddle" -- but alas all he was offering was a huddle -- or impromptu doorstep interview.
"We can all be very proud of this legislation: it's something we pursued vigorously in the programme for government," he explained, before his feelings ran away with him, "It's a great privilege to be here in this beautiful place on this beautiful day," he declared. "It's a beautiful day for Irish society".
John seemed a little disappointed that the assembled media were trying to pick holes in his pride and joy, such as that fact that the Bill stops short on including other provisions such as granting equality to same-sex couples through civil marriages.
Let's accentuate the positive here today, this is a significant step forward," Mr Gormley suggested. "In terms of our commitment to marriage equality, that will continue. Today is a day when we celebrate the legislation and let's not lose sight of that," he added sunnily.
John had barely time to gulp down a quick cup of tea and surf the good vibes, when the media were agitating for another cuddle, sorry, huddle on other matters such as the fallout from the IMF report on the country's economic quagmire.
Singing harmoniously off the same hymn sheet as the Taoiseach, John saw no need for apologies from anyone in government for the fine mess we've got into. He agreed with Brian Cowen's assertion that the pre-crash forecasts all predicted growth, and that the opposition parties were none the wiser.
"I think with the exception of the Green Party, Labour and Fine Gael were asking him to actually spend more money," he explained. "They weren't asking for expenditure cuts, they weren't asking him to rein in expenditure in any way, so I don't think anybody in next week's debate [on the IMF and OECD reports] can afford to point the finger," he added.
John clearly had no intention in looking back in anger or recrimination.
"That fact of the matter is, we are in a situation now and I think it is pointless crying over spilt milk at this stage," he reckoned.
Both he and Kieran Rose wanted to look on the bright side with this Bill. Kieran believed it might improve the lot of "thousands" of people. "And with this good weather maybe more people will fall in love," added Kieran.
Jolly John got a good laugh out of that one.
