James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 640: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the arrangements in place to facilitate the registration of civil partnerships as per recent legislation passed by Dáil Éireann and signed into law; when the registration of civil partnership will commence in Dublin and Cork; if adequate staff have been put in place; if the relevant systems have been adapted at the relevant offices to allow for the registration of civil partnerships as per the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1275/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The provisions of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 were commenced with effect from 1 January, 2010. This includes the provisions concerning the registration of civil partnerships. All of the arrangements necessary to allow a couple to begin the process leading to the registration of a civil partnership are in place. This process begins with the giving to a registrar of notification of intention to enter a civil partnership at least three months before the date of the registration of the civil partnership.

To date, eighteen notifications of intention to enter a civil partnership have been given and a further 63 appointments with registrars for giving notification have been scheduled covering all registration areas including Dublin and Cork. In order to give notification it is necessary to make an appointment with a registrar. The registration staff who deal with notifications for marriage will also deal with notifications for civil partnership. While applicants may experience a delay in obtaining an appointment at some offices, it is thought that this is of a temporary nature due to a combination of pent-up demand for civil partnership registration and the seasonality of higher demand for notification in respect of marriages at this time of year. Having regard to this and the fact that appointments for giving of notification can be sought at any registrar's office, it is considered that, overall, existing staff resources should be sufficient to meet on-going demand.

The civil registration computer system to facilitate civil partnership registration is being developed and it is anticipated that this will be deployed at registration offices later this month. Pending its deployment manual systems are being used. The computer system will be deployed well in advance of the first civil partnership registration which is not due to take place until early April, 2011. In the meantime manual procedures can adequately accommodate the volume of activity. Details relating to civil partnership registration including an information booklet on the matter are available on website; www.groireland.ie