The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, TD, has made
an Order under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of
Cohabitants Act 2010 prescribing certain registered relationships entered
into by same sex couples in other jurisdictions as entitled to be treated
as equivalent to civil partnership under Irish law.
The additional registered relationships now being afforded recognition are:
Ø Marriages from Denmark,
Ø Civil Unions from Delaware, USA,
Ø Civil Unions from Hawaii, USA, and
Ø Marriages from Washington, USA.
The Order came into effect on 31 December 2012.
Irish-based couples in any of these relationships will now be subject to
the same legal regime and the same rights and obligations as a couple who
register a civil partnership in Ireland. This includes rights and
obligations in relation to shared property, pensions, inheritance and on
break-up of the relationship. Civil partners are also treated in the same
way as spouses under the tax, social welfare and domestic violence codes.
The making of this order brings the number of categories of recognised
registered relationships to 43, from 35 jurisdictions.
Announcing the making of the order, Minister Shatter said “It is important
that same-sex couples who register their relationships in other
jurisdictions enjoy the recognition and benefits of the Irish civil
partnership legislation, on their return or relocation to Ireland. As the
legislative landscape continues to change internationally, this measure
ensures that Ireland remains up to date in this regard and that such
registered partners are afforded the full protection of the law.”
6 January 2013
ENDS
Note to Editors
Previous orders under section 5 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights
and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 were made in December 2010 and
December 2011. The full list of relationships now recognised under section
5 orders are listed below (newly recognised relationships are marked with
an asterisk):
|
Jurisdiction | Title of Relationship
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Argentina | Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Austria | Eingetragene
|
| Partnerschaft-Gesetz
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Belgium | Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Canada | Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Czech Republic | Registrované partnerství
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
| (a) Registreret
Denmark | partnerskab
| (b) Marriage*
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Finland | Rekisteröity parisuhde
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Germany | Eingetragene
|
| lebenspartnerschaft
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
| (a) Staðfest samvist
Iceland | (b) Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Isle of Man | Civil Partnership
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Mexico City | Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Netherlands | Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
New Zealand | Civil Union
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
| (a) Registrert partnerskap
Norway | (b) Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Portugal | Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
| (a) Marriage
South Africa | (b) Civil Partnership
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Spain | Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
| (a) Registrerat partnerskap
Sweden | (b) Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
| Eingetragene Partnerschaft /
Switzerland | Partenariat enregistré
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
United Kingdom | Civil Partnership
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
California (United States of | Marriage
|
America) |
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
| (a) Civil Union
Connecticut (United States of | (b) Marriage
|
America) |
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Delaware (United States of America) | Civil Union*
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Hawaii (United States of America) | Civil Union*
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Illinois (United States of America) | Civil Union
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Iowa (United States of America) | Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Massachusetts (United States of | Marriage
|
America) |
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
| (a) Civil Union
New Hampshire (United States of | (b) Marriage
|
America) |
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
New Jersey (United States of | Civil Union
|
America) |
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
New York (United States of America) | Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Oregon (United States of America) | Domestic Partnership
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Rhode Island (United States of | Civil Union
|
America) |
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
| (a) Civil Union
Vermont (United States of America) | (b) Marriage
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Washington D.C. (United States of | Marriage
|
America) |
---------------------------------------+---------------------------------
|
Washington State (United States of | Marriage*
|
America) |