The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said he will legislate for civil partnerships “at the earliest possible date in the lifetime of this Government”.Mr Ahern was speaking at the official opening of the refurbished Outhouse gay community resource centre in Dublin's Capel Street.
“This Government is committed to providing a more supportive and secure legal environment for same-sex couples,” the Taoiseach said.
"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.”
Outhouse manager Louise Tierney said it would be "unacceptable" if legislation was not put into place within the lifetime of the Dáil.
"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.
The resource centre claims to attract 1,000 people every week looking for information and support, and says there has been a major increase in the number of immigrants using its services.
The Outhouse contains a cafe, library and office space for 70 groups working on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.
A proposed civil union bill that would have ultimately given homosexual unions all the rights and privileges that are currently reserved for marriage was rejected in February 2007.
The Government rejected the current bill but gave the assurance that similar but not identical legislation would be forthcoming.
The bill was originally introduced in December 2006 by Labour party member Brendan Howlin, days after Justice Elizabeth Dunne of the Irish High Court ruled that a lesbian couple’s “marriage”, legally obtained and recognised in Canada, would not be recognised in Ireland.
The Dáil rejected the bill saying that, while they supported the fundamental intentions presented by the bill, they thought it “could not survive a constitutional challenge”.
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