Comments on: Irish civil partnerships could be enacted by end of the year

By: Robert, ex-pat Brit

Robert, ex-pat Brit — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:38:06 +0000

Tony, across the western EU member states where marriage for same sex couples is prohibited, there are several other forms of same sex "unions", some offering more than others and some less. Take the french PACs situation for example. They offer far loss than British civil partnerships so a British partnered couple who for whatever reason had to live and work in France are faced with fewer rights than they would in their own country. Where is the equality in that I wonder? This proves overwhelmingly that once you leave your country, don't expect to enjoy the same rights and benefits elsewhere. Further proof that these unions aren't equal and aren't that portable as many think they are. We now have seven countries allowing gay couples to marry, each having had civil "unions" of some kind prior to that all of which didn't work and now six states in America, possibly a seventh this year. I can guarantee you that civil partnershps in Ireland in the long run will NOT work.

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By: Simon Murphy

Simon Murphy — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:43:50 +0000

#6:Jesus – you say: "and of course they can have their own non-religious wedding in a public venue."

No they cannot. They can have a non-religious civil partnership ceremony. CP are better than nothing but they are still not equal.

Allowing gay people to have CP's but not civil marriage is the equivalent of post WW1 Britain. Women over the age of 30 were suddenly allowed to vote. Whereas men could vote at 21.

That too was 'progess' but of course it was also unfair and unacceptable. Just like Civil Partnerships.

I do not want to get married in a church but I damn sure want to have the EXACT same access to the legal contract of civil marriage that a straight person does,

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By: Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus of Nazareth — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:58:18 +0000

But it is a step forward. It also helps bring people out of the closet, and of course they can have their own non-religious wedding in a public venue.

And as the people discover that gay people are good people, the RAZInger NAZI (Seig Heil, Meine Churchfuhrer) and his equivalent 'christian (anything but) people will hopefully have a heart attack. And the world will be a much better place

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By: Brian Burton

Brian Burton — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:04:58 +0000

Tony,
I agree entirley with your comments. Bit by bit over a period of years is really the Minister anouncing he's going to shoot himself in the foot.

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By: Christina Engela

Christina Engela — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:56:40 +0000

Great, so Irish gay people will be able to get 'civil partnershipped'. Doesn't sound as good as "married", does it? That's because it isn't. It's second best – and anything less is not equal.

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By: lgbt NOISE

lgbt NOISE — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:31:27 +0000

http://www.lgbtnoise.ie

Noise was founded in November 2008 to campaign for the introduction of gay civil marriage legislation in Ireland. It is an independent, non-politically affiliated organisation that hopes to reach out to all people, gay or straight, who believe in equality and human rights for all. Noise believes that unless people make enough NOISE, the government will continue to allow discrimination against same-sex couples in Ireland.

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By: Simon Murphy

Simon Murphy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:02:46 +0000

This is very disappointing that they intend to legislate for inequality. The FF government keeps pretending that the constitution need to be changed to introduce equality. That is rubbish as there was no consitutional change required to allow Mary Robinson become Irish president (despite the constitution referring to the president as 'he' throughout). The constitution is meant to move with the times.

As for the Greens – those wimps have lied through their teeth. On their agenda prior to the last election they claimed to support equality. The instant they get into power they are supporting 2nd rate, unequal civil partnerships.

If this legislation goes through it will kill the campaign for equality as has happened in the UK since the CP legislation was enacted there.

I sincerely hope the government doesn't expect gratitude for this law as 2nd rate status is unacceptable. I also think that the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network should change their name to the Gay and Lesbian Inequality Network. They should not accept inequality on behalf of Irish queers when they have no mandate to speak for anyone but their own members.

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By: tony

tony — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:57:29 +0000

I think it is shame that they aren't going stright for full marriage. Other countries have shown that it can be done. It is a great waster of money and reseources to do this 'staged progression' thing of bringing in civil partnerships and then having to go through it all again ten or fifteen years later to bring in marriage. The direction of travel is obvious so why not just get on with it and do it properly? Civil partnerships cause all sorts of problems- once you leave your country other countries don't recognise the partnership, and it introduces institutionalised religious discrimination against gay-friendly churches etc. because same-sex couple wanting to marry in church or to have the church weddings recognised cannot do this, while straight couples can. We need to set a good example here, not go go with washy-washy half measures.

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By: macker

macker — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:40:11 +0000

I think we should take it one step at a time after all it is Ireland and not some other forward thinking country.id say we have the greens to thank for this and not FF.

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