THE FIANNA Fáil parliamentary party gave broad support to the Government’s approach to the Civil Partnership Bill last night, after personal contributions to the debate by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice to calm any concerns.
The parliamentary party debated the issue in response to a motion from Senator Jim Walsh that called for nothing to be done in the Bill that would lessen the special status of heterosexual marriage as set down in the Constitution.
Senator Walsh’s motion was signed by over 20 members of the parliamentary party and it triggered a debate that about 25 TDs and Senators contributed to.
The party spokesman said the debate was broadly supportive of the Government’s approach and that there was no criticism of plans for civil partnership from any of the speakers.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern contributed to the debate and outlined the thinking behind the Bill. They both emphasised that the Bill was entirely compatible with the Constitution.
The issue was referred to the party’s justice policy committee, under the chairmanship of Wexford TD Seán Connick.
The Cabinet cleared the heads of the legislation last week, and it is expected that a full Bill will be ready to go before the Houses of the Oireachtas in six months and to be law within about a year.
The Civil Partnership Bill would give gay and lesbian couples greater rights and control over pensions, inheritance and tax. However, it does not provide for gay marriage or allow adoption by same-sex couples.
Mr Cowen said last weekend that the commitment to introduce a Civil Partnership Bill was contained in the Government programme and had been worked on for some time.
“The institution of marriage is protected in our Constitution and is in no way undermined by this legislation,” he said.