Gay couples granted limited immigration rights

GAY partnerships are now being recognised in Ireland in immigration cases where one of the partners moving here is an EU national.

The landmark move follows the signing into law of an EU directive on freedom of movement by the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell.

The directive obliges members states to allow the non-EU partner of an EU citizen to move to the country and live there. This is in situations where the couple’s relationship has been legally recognised in the EU country from which they are coming.