Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I wish to ask about forthcoming legislation, specifically the Civil Partnership Bill, the publication of which was promised in March. The Taoiseach will be aware of recent newspaper articles suggesting there may be disagreements between the Government parties on this legislation. I suspect this may have more to do with the mindset of the new Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, given the somewhat medieval comments he made on civil rights issues in the past.

When will the Bill be published? Will it be published before the conclusion of this session? If the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has a difficulty with equality and law reform will he assign the Bill to another, more appropriate, Minister who is prepared to pilot it through the House?

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