Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Gilmore is held in high regard by those seated behind him.

On the civil partnership Bill, it was stated in the Dáil that the Minister would bring his proposals to the Government by the end of March. He has met that deadline. The proposed scheme draws on the options identified by the working group on domestic partnership, under the chairmanship of Ms Anne Colley, and the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission in its report on the rights and duties of cohabitants. The scheme will propose a statutory civil registration scheme for same sex partners and a redress scheme to provide certain legal protections for them and other cohabitants. I understand the heads of the Bill are being drafted but I cannot give an exact date for publication.

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