Civil Partnership Debate - Second Stage - December 3rd
Dáil debates Civil Partnership and Cohabitant Rights
- I assume we're all looking forward to the #cpbill debate tomorrow? Who'll be along in the public gallery or at the demo?by conorp via twitter 12/2/2009 9:51:11 AM
- @Paschald Great article, Senator. (http://tinyurl.ie/3u) #cpbillby clicky_here via twitter 12/2/2009 5:22:27 PM
- RT Opposition to tabling of freedom of concience amendment to #cpbill - gr8post from @paschald http://tinyurl.ie/3u and http://tinyurl.ie/3vby Oisin_OReilly via twitter 12/2/2009 5:22:32 PM
- Dermot Ahern to meet FF TD's tomorrow before Civil Partnership Bill to discuss differences http://bit.ly/8VViV4 #cpbillby Suzy Byrne via twitter 12/3/2009 12:21:51 AM
- Ireland's Civil Partnership Bill and religious cop-outs: http://bit.ly/5i5k3S #lgbt (via @eurOut) /via @Ballindeanby leora1987 via twitter 12/3/2009 2:02:10 AM
- Good morning, i was going to say Happy #CPBill day but then not everyone is happy. Interesting day to be lesbian or gay though.by Suzy Byrne via twitter 12/3/2009 8:49:54 AM
- Am really angry that they might include s concious objection clause in the #cpbillby Oisin_OReilly via twitter 12/3/2009 8:49:59 AM
- Irelands Civil partnership bill is being debated in the Dáil (parliament) tonight. About time tooby boctweet via twitter 12/3/2009 8:50:19 AM
- Is civil partnership bill being debated today in dail?for all the gays sake I hope the gov magically turns it into a marriage equality billby Ruaidhri_M via twitter 12/3/2009 8:50:25 AM
- Blogpost from Gaelick presenting some of the the background www.gaelick.com
- Good morning, i was going to say Happy #CPBill day but then not everyone is happy. Interesting day to be lesbian or gay though.by Suzy Byrne via twitter 12/3/2009 8:57:10 AM
- Will be on the watch for coverage during the day
- will be in the gallery...
- Human Rights in Ireland Blog post humanrightsinireland.wordpress.com
- s.2(2)(e) of Civil Registration Act 2004 states that marriage is between male and female only. 1st time to appear in Irish statute. #cpbillby gaelick via twitter 12/3/2009 9:16:40 AM
- Cllr Joe Ryan in Wexford on his views on #CPbill and Senator Jim Walsh in particular cllrjoeryan.blogspot.com
- Press Release from National Lesbian and Gay Federation
'Civil Partnership Option Flawed
NLGF Advocate for Civil Marriage Option for LGBT Community
Thursday, 3rd December 2009: Civil Partnership which is due for discussion in the Dail today is flawed, said the National Lesbian and Gay Federation. The organisation is instead calling for the immediate introduction of a Civil Marriage option which would give full rights to LGBT people.
Press Release from National Lesbian and Gay Federation In the recent NLGF report, Burning Issues, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people named equal marriage rights as their number one priority.
Ailbhe Smyth, Chairperson NLGF, said, “Burning Issues proved definitively that there is no appetite among the LGBT community for civil partnership. They recognise that not only will the bill deny them full rights, it will discriminate against them even further.”
She continued, “To ensure that LGBT people are treated equally in Ireland, the Government must move to provide equality by legislating for Civil Marriage. Currently LGBT people experience exploitation, harassment and violence on a daily basis. Civil partnership will fuel such anti-gay sentiments by signalling: ‘Yes, you are different’. The Government must admit that provision of Civil Partnership as the only relationship recognition option for LGBT people is a serious mistake.”
Burning Issues is one of the largest consultations ever undertaken with the LGBT community with over eleven hundred people responding. The report shows a community in a very positive light, unwilling to accept inequalities, keenly aware of the political situation, who will not accept second best and who are determined to go on campaigning until equality is delivered.
The Burning Issues research report can be downloaded from <http://www.nlgf.ie/> ' - Marriage Equality Open Letter to Brian Cowen www.marriagequality.ie
- Newstalk news headlines on the CP Bill www.newstalk.ie
- It's an interesting day alright wonder who will be out protesting tonight and on what sides ... #cpbillby Oisin_OReilly via twitter 12/3/2009 10:07:11 AM
- Civil Partnership Flawed Says NLGF: Publishers of GCN, the National Lesbian and Gay Federation call for the impleme... http://bit.ly/5BXPdkby gcnie via twitter 12/3/2009 10:12:57 AM
- Dáil has just agreed to sit later than 4.45pm today - that's lucky since there's a bit of business to be done tonight!
- RTE.ie Report and Round up on press releases so far from a number a groups www.rte.ie
- #cpbill being discussed today in the Dail http://tweetphoto.com/5747592by quinlivan via twitter 12/3/2009 10:51:23 AM
- has called on the Government to amend shortcomings in the Civil Partnership Bill,which fails to offer same-sex... http://bit.ly/8WWAhgby TheUSI via twitter 12/3/2009 11:06:58 AM
- Civil partnership bill being presented to Dáil today. The "Freedom of conscience" amendm't being mooted is v worrying http://bit.ly/5dcP2uby fionarhw via twitter 12/3/2009 11:26:14 AM
- Civil Partnership Without A Civil Marriage Option Will Promote Discrimination Towards Gay And Lesbian People http://bit.ly/7pu6Wuby humanrightsblog via twitter 12/3/2009 11:26:35 AM
- Why there should be no freedom of conscience amendment paschaldonohoe.ie/?p=2752 #cpbillby WilliamQuill via twitter 12/3/2009 11:41:05 AM
- Civil Partnership is Discrimination, Say Rights Groups: The same-sex partnership rights group, MarriagEquality have... http://bit.ly/4VWJiGby gcnie via twitter 12/3/2009 11:48:42 AM
- Gays and Transsexuals can't enter heaven according to Cardinal. www.nytimes.com
- I'm getting pissed off again. One again, same bloody topic. FYI - gay "marriage". It's called a civil union/partnership NOT marriage.by LeoMcKylle via twitter 12/3/2009 12:19:34 PM
- Civil Partnership Bill to be debated http://bit.ly/8o8D4fby usiequality via twitter 12/3/2009 2:01:33 PM
- Civil Partnership in Ireland - @AttitudeMag: Right now when I fly home to Dublin, my husband stops being my... http://tumblr.com/xj24fd466by bainser via twitter 12/3/2009 2:01:42 PM
- Can we please stop swallowing the spin and calling it the "Freedom of Conscience" amendment? Find a less loaded name.by Fergal via twitter 12/3/2009 2:03:30 PM
- RT @Fergal: Can we please stop swallowing the spin and calling it the "Freedom of Conscience" amendment? Find a less loaded name.by dermotcasey via twitter 12/3/2009 2:03:38 PM
- Have heard more about the #cpbill and am now in 2 minds. Is a measure of equality enough? Why can't equality mean just that & not tokenism?by bainser via twitter 12/3/2009 2:12:33 PM
- Irish civil partnerships bill presented to parliament today www.pinknews.co.uk
- @Fergal We should call it the discrimination amendment.
- I hear GLEN are so excited about the bill-pity they actually failed to consult with those they claimed to advocate for
- 3rd December 2009 - Not on their website yet apparently they are having technical problems!
Statement
Equality Authority Welcomes Introduction of Civil Partnership Bill as Important Step Forward for Civil Rights in Ireland
· Legislation is a significant step but full equality remains as ultimate goal
· Any amendments to legislation to enshrine discrimination must be opposed
Thursday, December 3rd – The introduction of the Civil Partnership Bill in Dáil Éireann was welcomed today by the Equality Authority which described the move as an important step forward for civil rights in Ireland. The proposed legislation will, for the first time, give same-sex couples the right to have their relationships formally recognised by the State.
Chairperson of the Equality Authority Angela Kerins stated:
“Today’s legislation is a ground-breaking move for Ireland and a major step in the right direction towards full equality for gay and lesbian couples. Numerous opinion polls have shown that the majority of us are in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry or form civil partnerships, and the recognition of same-sex partnerships also enjoys cross party support in both houses of the Oireachtas.
This proposed legislation will extend protection to thousands of same-sex couples in areas like inheritance, pension benefits, taxation and medical rights and is welcome. However, though a significant step forward it is not the final destination. In 2002 the Equality Authority called for equal access to civil marriage, and for equality in other relevant areas of family law, for same-sex couples. This remains our goal.”
The policy of the Equality Authority is to support the full implementation of the recommendations of the Government Working Group on Domestic Partnership, chaired by Anne Colley which underpin equality-based reform for opposite sex, same-sex and non conjugal cohabitants.
In this regard, the Equality Authority today voiced some concerns with the proposed legislation, the main one being the lack of reference to children and of adoption by same-sex couples in the legislation. The Colley Group recommended that same-sex couples should be eligible for consideration as adoptive parents.
“In reality, many same-sex couples are already parents. Their children will continue to face questions regarding inheritance, guardianship and access, and will remain disadvantaged when compared with other children, including the step children of a civil marriage. It is to be hoped that the Law Reform Commission’s current consultation on the Legal Aspects of Family Relationships will bring forward major reform in this area.”
Addressing the issue of a possible amendment which has been mooted to allow for state officials to be exempt from registering civil partnerships, Kerins stated:
“This proposal would be unjustified, unworkable and unacceptable. Civil Partnership is a civil event, not a religious one. The Equality Authority would be strongly against such an amendment to the Bill, as a retrograde and discriminatory clause in what is a progressive piece of legislation.”
In conclusion, Angela Kerins commented:
“Hundreds of committed campaigners have invested time and energy in bringing Ireland forward to this point and now this Bill will finally be debated in the Dáil. Today is a historic day for Irish civil rights, with Ireland joining other countries such as the UK, Canada, Spain, Denmark and Sweden which have already taken steps to recognise the rights of same-sex couples to have their relationships recognised by the state.
“While the availability of civil marriage must always be our goal for same sex couples, the Civil Partnership Bill is a fundamental and historic step towards a fair and just society for gay, lesbian and bisexual people who are not unknown faceless people but the sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, neighbours and friends of all of us. All our elected representatives should stand behind this Bill and ensure its swift enactment" - I prefer to call it the Florists amendment #cpbill tinyurl.com
- wonder if any TD will make a mistake again by saying Lays and Gesbians #cpbillby ianmcgahon via twitter 12/3/2009 5:35:13 PM
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