Non-Irish people in civil unions to get same rights

THE MINISTER for Justice and Equality says that non-Irish persons in civil partnerships with Irish citizens will receive the same citizenship rights as those in married couples.

Alan Shatter said, in response to a parliamentary question, that it was his intention that “civil partnerships registered in Ireland or recognised by Irish law, be treated the same as marriages”, in the area of immigration.

Mr Shatter’s comments followed a parliamentary question tabled by Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin .

Mr Ó Caoláin had pointed out that, “at present, the spouses of Irish citizens seeking naturalisation can avail of more favourable eligibility conditions than apply to other citizenship applicants”.

He said while Irish citizen spouses must be resident in the 32 counties for a minimum of three years, applicants not married to Irish citizens had to be resident in the 26 counties for a minimum of five years.

The Cavan Monaghan TD called for the Civil Partnership Act to extend the same naturalisation rights to a civil partner as enjoyed by a married spouse.

In response, the Minister said he would bring forward an amendment “at a future date” which would see the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 extended to cover the civil partners of Irish citizens.

Mr Shatter said until the relevant amendment to the Citizenship Act took place, he intends to “use [his] discretion to grant certificates of naturalisation to persons involved in such relationships in situations in which naturalisation would be granted to an applicant who is a non-Irish national spouse of an Irish spouse”.

Mr Ó Caoláin said last night: “I welcome this small but much-needed reform of the naturalisation laws and in particular this further move toward equality for same-sex couples in Ireland”.