Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

It would be prudent to await the Supreme Court's determination on an appeal pending in a case relating to the recognition by the State of a same-sex marriage contracted in a foreign jurisdiction. This legislation is premature in view of the appeal to the Supreme Court. Section 5 of the Bill which provides for legal recognition in the State of foreign same-sex marriages and civil partnerships pre-empts the ruling of the Supreme Court in this case. The Government is committed to providing greater rights and recognition and higher levels of protection for unmarried cohabiting couples. In particular, it recognises the justified claims of the gay and lesbian community to recognition and protection for their relationships. The limited legal protections available to gay and lesbian couples in discrete areas of the law were put in place by the Government. Deputy McManus mentioned the former Minister for Justice, Mrs. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, who introduced legislation in the House not that long ago to decriminalise homosexuality. If my memory serves me correctly, a big queue did not form in the House to support the measure she was introducing.

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