Gay people push for full marriage rights

HUNDREDS of gay rights demonstrators massed outside the Dáil last night to insist on full civil marriage rights for same-sex couples.

The rally coincided with landmark civil partnership legislation being presented to the Dáil by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern.

Independent senator David Norris and a raft of gay rights groups said the move did not go far enough. Addressing a crowd of around 300 outside Leinster House, Mr Norris said it was “unacceptable” for the legislation to ignore the status of children in same-sex relationships and fail to provide guardianship rights for a partner if the natural parent dies.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said it was a “blaring omission from the Bill and a third of same-sex family units contain children and their rights needed to be legislated for”.

While civil partnership will give key rights to same-sex couples regarding taxation, pensions, social welfare, inheritance, property and employment law, protesters said civil marriage conveyed 610 legal rights on spouses, while civil partnership provided 160.

Green Party justice spokesman Ciarán Cuffe said the junior coalition partner would push for full civil marriage in future.

Mr Ahern told the Dáil the Bill was a major shift in Irish society. “This Bill takes nothing from anyone, but what it gives is profound and is positive.”