James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I support this motion and thank the Labour Party for bringing this important issue back before the House. With my Fine Gael colleagues, I call on the Government to legislate for civil partnerships early in the life of this Dáil. I ask the Government to reactivate the Civil Unions Bill in the interest of equality.

In a U-turn last night, that was, of course, presented as a new idea, the Government had another conversion on the road to extinction, which is becoming shorter by the minute. Do rights of citizenship apply only to the current Government? It is easy to believe that they do. What Government, when it is not covering its back and feathering its nest, would oppose a Bill that would allow all citizens, regardless of sex or status, to share equal rights to property, inheritance, tax benefits, social welfare entitlements, next of kin rights, workplace entitlements and full pension provisions? The answer to this is clear to all. The Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats-Green Party Government is ensuring, by blocking this legislation, that Ireland is one of only two major western European states with no legislative provision for same sex relationships. What will be the price of the Green Party support for the Bill as evidenced last February? How will that party's avowed support for equality for same sex relationships marry with the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats' stalling on the issue?

We must bear in mind that we have benefited greatly from our membership of the European Union. We must embrace matters other than those with immediate financial benefits for the country. Equality in Ireland should reflect equality throughout the European Union and those seeking it should be encouraged. If the Minister waits much longer on this issue he will be forced to take action by an EU directive.

In the High Court judgment on Gilligan and Zappone v. the Revenue Commissioners on 14 February 2006 Ms Justice Dunne stated that people in the position of the plaintiffs, be they same sex or heterosexual couples, can suffer great difficulty and hardship in the event of the serious illness or death of a partner. Dr. Zappone spoke eloquently when giving evidence to the court and said that ultimately it is for the Legislature to determine the extent to which such changes should be made. The ball is back in The Minister's court.

As a result of an amendment passed on a report in the House of Lords the UK's civil partnership bill provides for close family members to register as civil partners, whether of the same sex or the opposite sex. Ireland lags behind the rest of the EU in its recognition of same sex relationships and risks falling further behind, to the detriment of many of our citizens, if the Government does not take action to reactivate legislation. Three extensive reports on this were published in 2006 but none of the options outlined has been acted on.

Last February, in voting down the Labour Party's Private Members' Bill, the Government argued it was unconstitutional but it failed to say why. Surely this is a cut and dry matter and the Government's legal advisers can outline their reasons for rejecting it. It was pointed out at the time that all the speeches on the motion supported the concept of same sex civil unions and it was also noted that sympathetic speeches came from the Government backbenches. As they say, where there is life there is hope, and Fine Gael has hope on this issue. It was the first party to publish a comprehensive civil partnership plan in 2004, following a commitment in the viable justice document of 2002. We support the reactivation of the Civil Unions Bill and call on the Government to do likewise today. I appeal to the Minister on this matter.

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