Recognition of Same-sex Unions in The Republic of Ireland

Recognition Of Same-sex Unions In The Republic Of Ireland

Civil partnerships in Ireland, granted under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, give same-sex couples rights and responsibilities similar, but not equal to, civil marriage. The legislation also provides rights for participants in long-term cohabiting relationships (opposite- or same-sex) who have not entered into a civil partnership or marriage. The following entry focuses primarily on the same-sex civil partnership aspect of the Act, as opposed to the cohabitation aspect.

The Civil Partnership Act came into effect on 1 January 2011. It had been expected that the first ceremonies would not take place until April 2011 due to a three month waiting period required by law for all civil ceremonies. However, the legislation does provide a mechanism for exemptions to be sought through the courts, and the first partnership, which was between two men, was registered on 7 February 2011. While this ceremony was carried out publicly in the Civil Registration Office in Dublin, given the circumstances, no publicity was actively sought and the mainstream media were not present.

It was not until 5 April 2011, the anticipated date for the first ceremonies, that the media covered a civil partnership. It took place in Dublin, and was between Hugh Walsh and Barry Dignam.

The tax code was amended in July 2011 under the Finance (No. 3) Act to take account of civil partnership. The Act, in the main, is retrospective to 1 January 2011 and it creates virtual parity, in taxation matters, between civil partners on the one hand and married people on the other hand. The Social Welfare code had already been amended in December, 2010 to take account of civil partnership.

The 2006 Irish census revealed 121,000 cohabiting couples, up from 77,000 in 2002. This included 2,090 in same-sex relationships, up from 1,300.