Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and acknowledge Deputy Kerrane tabled a similar amendment, which we will get to shortly. The amendment before us concerns a very broad measure that relates to many schemes in my Department but also concerns matters beyond my Department's remit, including potentially wider, constitutional matters. Entering into a marriage or civil partnership is a legal act that confers both rights and obligations on both parties that do not exist in law between cohabiting couples.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Oireachtas recently established the Special Committee on Gender Equality as a result of recommendations made by the citizens' assembly. This committee is considering the recommendations contained in the report of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality together with the response of the Government to each recommendation and is due to report within nine months of its establishment. These matters should be examined in the round by the committee and we can then consider its report in regard to specific policy contexts, including social protection schemes.

Notwithstanding that, in order to be helpful, my Department will carry out a report on this issue and feed it into the Oireachtas committee, which is examining this in the round. As I said, Deputy Kerrane has tabled a similar amendment that we will reach later. I give them both a commitment that I will ask my officials to carry out a report on how cohabiting couples are treated in the social welfare system. I will refer that report to the Oireachtas committee, which can consider it in the round. I reiterate marriage conveys legal rights in a number of areas, particularly succession rights, that go beyond the remit of my Department. The issue needs to be examined on a whole-of-government basis. I understand Deputy Bacik is chairing the committee. I will be happy to feed this information into that committee.

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