Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Neither I nor the Government wish to pass legislation that is subject to a time limit within which it may not be possible to deliver the benefits that flow from this Bill in regard to social welfare and taxation provision. Both the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Protection have been working on the template for what is required. I understand the work of the Department of Social Protection is well advanced and that it expects to bring forward legislation in the autumn to implement the Bill's provision. The issue of taxation changes is a matter for the next Finance Bill.

Imposing a specific time limit on the commencement of this legislation is impractical in that we may well end up commencing a Bill that is not implementable because the corresponding legislation is not in place. There must be flexibility in regard to commencement. There is no desire to delay this in any way; we are not putting the social welfare and taxation issues on the long finger. There are two distinct issues involved here, namely, civil partnership and cohabitation. In respect of both - civil partnership, in particular - I am advised that a significant publicity campaign is required to ensure the public is aware of all aspects including, for example, the cohabitant redress scheme. Before the Bill is commenced we must ensure that existing and future couples know this legislation is on the Statute Book and what it contains.

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