Comments on: Delay in Irish civil partnership bill exposes coalition tensions

By: William - Dublin

William - Dublin — Sat, 31 May 2008 23:30:22 +0000

Connor, perhaps someone with more expertise in Irish Law could help here, but as best as my understanding goes, I believe your partner will need to apply for a visa as a single individual, I do not thing there is any provision in Irish law (unfortunately) for same sex partners, even if they are in a legally recognised partnership/marriage elsewhere. When Ireland passes the partnership legislation then you *might* have the option to "marry" (or what ever the correct word will be) your partner in Ireland, but I'm not sure if the civil partnerships legislation will only cover two Irish citizens. The other options marry in a state in the US and then have your relationship recognised under Irish law, but again, this will have to wait until the details of the Irish civil partnership legislation is available.

I hope this helps, but maybe someone with a better understanding of Irish law can give you better advice. Perhaps contact Outhouse or GCN in Dublin?

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By: Asef

Asef — Sat, 31 May 2008 17:53:52 +0000

Connor, as the law stands now you and your boyfriend are as strangers under the law. Your relationship is not recognised in any way.

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By: Connor

Connor — Sat, 31 May 2008 11:36:04 +0000

Hi all,

I am Irish but have been living in INdonesia with my Indonesian boyfriend for the last 8 or 9 years. Glad to hear that Irish law has moved on a bit, but I am wondering if anybody new if it were possible for my boyfriend to legally work in Ireland. Does Irish law recognise my relationship with a non EU person?

I am trying to move back to Ireland, but its difficult to find out what my rights are and if he can come with me.

Any info would be great!

Tx Con

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By: William - Dublin

William - Dublin — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:06:28 +0000

Sister Mary, you're quite right, direction is more important than speed in this case. Due to our shared culture and history, the Irish have, for the most part, followed the UK on legal example, and there is a lot of talk in Ireland as to how much our own partnership laws should reflect the UK given the common interest in making common ground for people in Southern and Northern Ireland. Lets hope so.

Good to have our paths cross again!

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By: Sister Mary Clarence

Sister Mary Clarence — Thu, 29 May 2008 00:13:42 +0000

Hello William, our paths have not crossed so much lately unfortunately.

Public opinion is changing in the right direction in Ireland, as it is in the UK, although possibly a little slower. Political opinion and legislation will change slowly behind it.

The key to the successful introduction of the various equalies we are now enjoying in the UK is that they were not introduced ahead of the necessary public opinion to support them.

He's hoping the pace will pick up a bit though.

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By: William - Dublin

William - Dublin — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:56:59 +0000

Well Sister Mary (and good to talk to you again, always a pleasure), I'm not entirely sure. There was mention that any person in a formal civil union or marriage in another country would be entitled to be recognised as such, but that doesn't mean much to those who live in countries without any sort of protection.

To be honest, I wouldn't hold much stock in our current government to provide any really comprehensive partnership legislation to match the UK's. Bill is right on one thing, (and this being the only thing I will ever concede to that small hateful individual), there too much catholic influence on the Fianna Fail party in Ireland… its getting smaller, yes, but its still there. I suppose if and when they get their thumbs out of their neither regions and issue the details of the proposed legislation we will know how bad a pile of useless crap its going to be.

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By: Naiyeli

Naiyeli — Wed, 28 May 2008 06:15:54 +0000

Does anyone know if this bill will include same sex immigration rights??

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By: Sister Mary Clarence

Sister Mary Clarence — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:53:37 +0000

Someone needs to tell Bill that Disney and Nickelodeon are not actually news channels.

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By: William - Dublin

William - Dublin — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:43:09 +0000

"The most hopeful party in Ireland, the militantly socialist, pro-Irish, pro-GLBT Sinn Féin"

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:- that is a nonsense statement made by someone who has never actually been to Ireland. Sinn Fein hold less than 7% of the seats in the Irish Parliament and will never attain power because of their "military work". Your statements Bill, are an insult to the Irish nation… not that's ever stopped you before. Do try not to project your archaic 64 year old communist view of the world on a democratic country like Ireland please.

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By: Bill Perdue, RainbowRED

Bill Perdue, RainbowRED — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:29:57 +0000

The reformist Irish Greens say that civil unions are "a step towards full equality". They’re dead wrong. Civil unions and civil partnerships cast us into a second class status. We’re either equal or we’re not. The FF/Green bill promises to be a sidestep away from equality, not towards it.

This backwardness is a reflection of the residual but potent influence of the roman cult. The Republic is as priest ridden as Italy, Poland and Spain. The difference between these countries is the difference in the power of the anti-clerical and working class left. Poland, because of the betrayals of the Stalinists has no working class or socialist parties capable of winning. The left in Italy is disorganized and not particularly militant and the Vatican constantly and illegally interferes in Italian political life.

The most hopeful party in Ireland, the militantly socialist, pro-Irish, pro-GLBT Sinn Féin only recently turned towards full time political activity and away from their military work after winning their defensive campaign to protect the Irish from DUP death squads. In the north Sinn Féin is the majority Irish party but in the Republic they’re only about half the size of Irish Labour and have a lot of growing to do before they become a mass party.

Only in Spain, with the massive anti-clerical, pro socialist PSOE do we have a party capable of enacting a whole suite of pro-LGBT laws including full marriage equality and while they’re at it telling the Vatican to take a flying f**k.

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By: William - Dublin

William - Dublin — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:29:22 +0000

Well, no surprise that the Irish Government would drag their heels on this. Anyone who thought Fianna Fail were serious about gay rights has only to see this lack of priority they're putting on gay rights to see they couldn't give a monkey's about equality. And no thanks to the Greens either… they're more interested in being, and staying, in power they will do nothing to rock the boat, or should I say, rock the gravy train. A pack of cowards in coalition with a pack of closet bigots. Welcome to the Ireland of the 21st century.

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