Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 13, line 13, after "Partnership" to insert "and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants".

On Committee Stage I accepted in principle a suggestion made by Deputy Flanagan in regard to the two distinct issues dealt with in this Bill. Amendment No. 1 will avoid creating the impression that the Bill encapsulates all law which applies to cohabitants. There has been an increasing recognition of cohabitation in legislation in recent years and different levels of recognition are afforded in different situations. The primary purpose of this Bill is to establish the cohabitants redress scheme in Part 15 and not to incorporate all existing legislation on cohabiting couples. Amendment No. 1 is framed to match the Short Title to those rights and obligations flowing from Part 15 and to make clear that the Bill does not provide the full body of law applicable to cohabitants.

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