(Ireland) - A Labour Party private members bill, the Civil Unions Bill, was defeated in the Dail last week. The government announced its own plans to give legal protection and recognition to same-sex couples and the ‘‘myriad’’ life relationships with no legal status. Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan and Green Party leader John Gormley pledged to have the legislation drawn up by March, although no timeframe has yet been advanced for its implementation. ‘‘The problem is we’re not sure how much of the equality agenda is going to be implemented in the government’s legislation,” said Ritchie Keane, chairman of Labour’s equality group. ‘‘If they were serious about equality, they should have let the Labour Party bill go to committee stage and it could have been worked on there. We believe our bill was robust enough for any challenges.”
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