Seanad debates

Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Finance (No. 3) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

4:00 pm

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Independent)

I thank the Minister for his response. In the recommendation I was trying to put forward two items. The first is the suggestion that in the civil partnership legislation there is no absolute negation of the possibility of a voluntary agreement between civil partners for separation. It does not seem to be contained in the Act. It is true to state there is no allowance for judicial separation but this is not to state there is no possibility of implicit recognition of some form of voluntary or deed of separation. On this basis, I am trying to argue that perhaps this recommendation could be accepted.

The second is that if the recommendation is not accepted, should partnerships break down and partners separate prior to the time that must pass for the partnership to be dissolved or annulled but because of financial circumstances they are required to live together, they will not be enabled to have the same favourable tax treatment as married couples as the law stands. It is sad to state this because we are only beginning to witness a number of couples registering civil partnerships. If the recommendation is not accepted it is important to note that in this instance there will not be the same treatment for civil partners as for married couples.

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