Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 619: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if submissions sent in previously for the All-Party Oireachtas Committee report on the Constitution regarding the family will be taken into consideration by the working group on domestic partnership. [15284/06]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will extend the date for submissions to the working group on domestic partnership. [15285/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 620 together.

The Deputy will appreciate that the manner of operation of the working group on domestic partnership is a matter for itself under its terms of reference which charge the group with preparing an options paper on domestic partnership for presentation to me on 20 October 2006.

The terms of reference are to consider the categories of partnerships and relationships outside of marriage to which legal effect and recognition might be accorded, consistent with constitutional provisions, and to identify options as to how and to what extent legal recognition could be given to those alternative forms of partnership entered into outside the State. The group is to take into account models in place in other countries.

However, I can say that the working group will obviously be taking into account, among other matters, the report of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution on the family which has scheduled to it the text of submissions made to the committee by various organisations, groups and individuals. The group will therefore have ready access to these submissions should it wish to avail of them.

The deadline of 28 April 2006 for receipt of submissions was set by the group and, again, it is for the group to decide whether any extension of that deadline will be allowed. The group's terms of reference and contact details for its secretariat are available on my Department's website at www.justice.ie.