Civil Partnership Bill 'falls short' - ICCL

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has said the proposed Civil Partnership Bill falls short of providing full equality.

However, family law experts said it was "a step in the right direction".

Oireachtas members were briefed on the legal consequences and human rights implications of the Bill today.

Although the Bill has been described as “the most comprehensive reform of family law in a generation” by some experts, the ICCL said the general scheme of the Bill fell short of providing full equality for same-sex couples and non-traditional families.

“The General Scheme of the Civil Partnership Bill published by the Government last year was a staging post rather than a milestone on the road to full equality. The Oireachtas must now legislate to end discrimination against same-sex couples and other non-traditional families,” said ICCL director Mark Kelly.

“Producing a genuinely comprehensive Civil Partnership Bill will be a litmus test of the Government’s commitment to equality."

However, family experts described it as a "watershed" in modern Irish law.

"Full equality undoubtedly demands equal access to civil marriage. However, provided that the Bill lives up to the draft version published last year, it will be a robust step in the right direction,” said Dr Fergus Ryan.