Nov 01, 2007Quickie Link: Ireland's Gay Couples to Get Legal Recognition Next Year
By vanrozenheim
(Ireland) - The Government has announced plans to give legal recognition to same-sex couples but the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Brian Lenihan, has ruled out Gay marriage as "being in conflict with the Constitution." The Minister said last night that the heads of a Bill to legislate for civil partnerships would be ready by next March and the Government would then proceed as quickly as possible with detailed legislation. Mr Lenihan said the Government opposed a Labour Party Bill on civil unions, originally tabled last March, as the "clear advice of the Attorney General was that it was contrary to the explicit recognition given to the family based on marriage in the Constitution."
