Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 22, to delete lines 33 to 40 and substitute the following:

"(6) (a) The witnesses shall sign the form after the parties to the civil partnership have done so, and the registrar shall countersign the form.

(b) The parties' civil partnership shall be taken to be registered upon the counter-signature of the registrar.

(c) As soon as practicable after the signatures and counter-signature, the registrar shall give the parties a copy of the form referred to in paragraph (a), enter the particulars in relation to the civil partnership in the register and register the civil partnership in a manner that an tArd-Chláraitheoir may direct.".

This amendment redrafts section 59D(6). New subsection (6)(a) replicates exactly part of the original provision. New subsection (6)(b) ensures that a civil partnership is taken to be registered from the moment the registrar countersigns the couple's witnessed civil partnership registration form. The Bill refers extensively to civil partnership registration and the rights and duties that accrue therefrom but it is essential to be clear that such rights and duties take effect on the completion of formalities by the countersigning of the registration form by the registrar. New subsection (6)(c) adds a requirement on the registrar to provide a copy of the signed civil partnership form to the parties.

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