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Civil Partnership Bill Signed Into Law
At Áras an Uachtaráin this morning, President Mary McAleese signed the Civil Partnership Bill into law. This means for the first time in Ireland, legal recognition for same sex couples has been provided.
Same sex couples can now enjoy some rights akin to a married couple in the areas of social welfare, succession, maintenance, pensions, tax and property. However it is not only same sex couples that will enjoy new rights and protections under the Act. Previously in Irish law, there was no protection afforded to the rights of cohabiting heterosexual couples. Under the Act, cohabiting couples will also enjoy these marriage type rights and protections. The Act has been promoted by the government as being a significantly important piece of legislation, however some critics have argued that it does not go far enough, so it does not allow for same sex marriage, nor does it deal with the issue of parental rights in relation to children of same sex couples.
In order for the provisions of the Act to be effective, changes will need to be made to the tax and social welfare codes, and these changes will be made in the next finance and social welfare bills. The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 will be commenced once these changes have been implemented. It is expected that civil registration ceremonies will begin to take place in January of next year.
For further information, please contact Malcomson Law by calling 01 8744422 or by filling out an Online Enquiry Form. A solicitor who specialises in Family Law will contact you to advise you of your legal rights and entitlements.
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