Speeches:

On Civil Unions, 31st October 2007

It can be difficult to enter into an unconventional relationship.  When the Green Party was approached by Fianna Fáil six months ago, many believed the relationship would not last.  People told us to be cautious of Fianna Fáil because it was only after our votes and that it would drop us when necessary.  They told us that they had been around for a long time and knew more about these matters than we did.  I am glad to state that it is not a marriage of convenience, on which our programme for Government is clear.

  There can be moments of tension in a relationship.  When Deputy Howlin asked us to adopt his Bill last week, it caused a certain amount of tension.  We discussed the Bill in detail and I am pleased to say that we will proceed with the heads of a Bill on this issue by the end of March 2008.

We support the principle of equality through giving legal recognition to same sex unions.  We supported it while in opposition and it was included at our insistence in the programme for Government agreed on 13 June.  Since the resumption of Government business in the past two months, the Green Party has been in consultation with our Government partners, in particular the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to progress the issue.  We have been working hard behind the scenes for the past two months.

  This is an important occasion because for the first time in the State's history the first legal steps are being taken to accord legal recognition to thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people previously ignored by official Ireland.

 I thank the Minister and his colleagues for their support, but this is just the first step and we wish to see related equality issues addressed.  This step is a clear pledge to prepare the heads of a Bill by next March.  We intend to ensure that legislation makes its way on to the Statute Book as quickly as possible thereafter.

  I salute the Labour Party's efforts to keep this issue on the public agenda, but this measure is flawed.  The Attorney General's clear advice is that the measure would not withstand a legal challenge because it clashes fundamentally with Article 41.3.1°.

 There is a difference between proposing while in opposition and enacting while in government.  We must enact legislation that stands up to scrutiny, respects international best practice and can stand up in the courts.  We must ensure that the vulnerable people in relationships are protected and that the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. We must ensure that taxation, social welfare schemes and pensions are covered.  We must deal with succession, shared homes and power of attorney when partners are ill.  All this must come into the Bill.  It is crucial that the first steps in that Bill be correct.  I am not convinced the Labour Party Bill goes down the right road on a comprehensive corpus of legislation.