Dáil to debate Civil Unions Bill

The Government could give initial backing to the first-ever draft legislation on gay marriages, it emerged today.

The Civil Unions Bill, to be tabled in the Dáil by the Labour Party, will be debated tonight and tomorrow night before being voted on.

Labour’s justice spokesman Brendan Howlin, who will introduce the Bill, said that he is optimistic from soundings from the

Government benches that Coalition TDs could support it at Second Stage.

The Bill provides the same rights, privileges and benefits for same-sex couples as currently apply for marriage.

“I am optimistic that the Government will allow it to pass Second Stage for it to be debated by at Committee Stage,” Mr Howlin said.

It is very rare for the Government to support an Opposition-sponsored Bill in the Dáil.

In 2005, same-sex couples in Northern Ireland and the UK were granted legal rights through the Civil Partnership Act.

The Labour Party has a track record in piloting reforming social legislation: Mr Howlin introduced contraception laws while Health Minister in 1993 while Cabinet colleague Mervyn Taylor paved the way for divorce in 1995.

Mr Howlin said his Bill was a very significant step towards the provision of full equality for gay and lesbian citizens.

He said he was confident that an increasingly pluralist Irish society had matured its attitudes on the issue.

Recent research has shown that 52% of Irish people are in favour of full civil marriage status for same sex couples while 84% are in favour of legal recognition.

The Labour Party tabled the Bill following the Government’s failure to outline any timeframe for implementing the report of the Working Group on Domestic Relationships, launched last November.