Same-sex unions to get many benefits of marriage

ireland.com - The Irish Times - Tue, Apr 01, 2008 - Same-sex unions to get many benefits of marriage

Same-sex unions to get many benefits of marriage

THE GOVERNMENT is finalising legislation on civil partnerships that will extend many of the same benefits and legal obligations of marriage to same-sex couples, writes CARL O'BRIEN , Social Affairs Correspondent.

However, it will not provide any right for same-sex couples to be considered as joint adoptive parents, despite a strong campaign by gay equality groups.

Under the heads of the new Civil Partnership Bill, which runs to more than 200 pages, same-sex partners will be able to to avail of marriage-like benefits in a range of areas such as property, social welfare, succession, maintenance, pensions and tax.

The dissolution of civil partnerships will also mirror marriage in that applications to dissolve such unions may only be made once both parties have been living apart for four out of the previous five years, just as with traditional divorce applications.

However, the legislation is unlikely to go far enough to meet demands of same-sex lobby groups who want full marriage and equality before the law for same-sex couples..............

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