The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter, T.D., 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 registered relationships now being afforded recognition are:
Ø Civil Partnerships from the Isle of Man,
Ø Civil Partnerships from South Africa,
Ø Civil Unions from Illinois, USA,
Ø Marriages from New York, USA,
Ø Domestic Partnerships from Oregon, USA, and
Ø Civil Unions from Rhode Island, USA.
The Order will come into effect on 25 December 2011.
Irish-based couples in any of these relationships will, from that date, 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 39, from 32 jurisdictions.
Announcing the making of the order, the Minister said “This Order shows the Government’s commitment to ensuring that same-sex couples who register their relationships in other jurisdictions may enjoy the full protections and benefits of the civil partnership legislation. Reform of the law in this area in other countries is ongoing, and we are ensuring that registered partners will enjoy recognition and protection of the law on return or relocation to Ireland.”
Note to Editors
An initial order under section 5 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 was made on 23 December 2010. The relationships recognised under that order and the new order made on 4 December 2011 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
Denmark Registreret partnerskab
Finland Rekisteröity parisuhde
Germany Eingetragene lebenspartnerschaft
Iceland (a) Staðfest samvist
(b) Marriage
Isle of Man Civil Partnership*
Mexico City Marriage
Netherlands Marriage
New Zealand Civil Union
Norway (a) Registrert partnerskap (b) Marriage
Portugal Marriage
South Africa (a) Marriage (b) Civil Partnership*
Spain Marriage
Sweden (a) Registrerat partnerskap (b) Marriage
Switzerland Eingetragene Partnerschaft / Partenariat enregistré
United Kingdom Civil Partnership
California (United States of America) Marriage
Connecticut (United States of America) (a) Civil Union
(b) Marriage
Illinois (United States of America) Civil Union*
Iowa (United States of America) Marriage
Massachusetts (United States of America) Marriage
New Hampshire (United States of America) (a) Civil Union
(b) Marriage
New Jersey (United States of America) Civil Union
New York (United States of America) Marriage*
Oregon (United States of America) Domestic Partnership*
Rhode Island (United States of America) Civil Union*
Vermont (United States of America) (a) Civil Union
(b) Marriage
Washington D.C. (United States of America) Marriage