Maman Poulet

It’s been difficult not to notice that Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht affairs Pat Carey has hit the ground running in terms of visiting community projects around the country and trying to offer soothing words to the decimated sector. Minister Carey has a lot of making up to do given the bad relations which have existed with other ministers in a number of departments in the past three years.

For LGBT groups the area of community development is still rather new, or at least the national recognition and co-ordination of initiatives is still new .

Minister Carey earlier today launched the LGBT Diversity initiative which aims to support lgbt organisations and communities throughout Ireland. Currently there are nine organisations involved in the programme and a number of staff have been appointed throughout the country to work in supporting the development of programmes which support LGBT people, build sustainable communities and support voluntary and statutory bodies at local and regional level in how they work in the area.

Merrionstreet.ie were there to cover the launch and the Minister’s speech – which included his views on gay marriage. (Merrionstreet.ie is the Government’s new online portal/news service with video, ‘blogs’, tweeting etc. It’s cost €40,000 so far and there is no way for the voters to engage back with their socially mediaesque elected officials.)

The Minister believes that same sex marriage will happen ’sooner rather than we think’ but will be difficult and require further lobbying. Interesting to see him take up the issue in a speech and he also spoke about homophobia and suicide in the LGBT community. I can’t find the full text of his speech yet but will include it when it is published. Thanks to the speech genie you can read the Minister’s speech here.

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Just in from the Department of Justice and Law Reform

Ahern Welcomes Coming Into Law of Civil Partnership

and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010

The Minister for Justice & Law Reform, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., welcomed the coming into law of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010.

President Mary McAleese this morning signed the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009. Minister Ahern said: “This most one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation to be enacted since independence. Its legislative advance has seen an unprecedented degree of unity and support within both Houses of the Oireachtas.
This Act provides enhanced rights and protections for many thousands of Irish men and women. Ireland will be a better place for its enactment. This new law provides, for the first time, legal recognition for same-sex couples in Ireland. It is of tremendous social significance, for the couples who can now register as partners, for their friends and families – ultimately, for all of us.”

The Act also provides for a cohabitants’ redress scheme, which will provide a ’safety-net’ for financially dependent long-term cohabitants on the end of a relationship.

It is expected that changes to the tax and social welfare code will be made in the next finance and social welfare Bills. The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 is expected to be commenced when those changes take effect.

Update - The list of bills signed into law by the President from her website.

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I don’t usually do blog posts on rumours but there’s an awful lot of whispering going on regarding the President calling a meeting of Council of State and sending the Civil Partnership Bill to the Supreme Court to test it’s constitutionality. Early this afternoon the phone and the gchat started going from people in all the best places.  Politicians were putting long weekend plans on hold, Senior Counsel on standby for August, that sort of thing.

The whispers came from three different sources and Panti has been hearing them too. The President received the bill on Wednesday evening.  And must sign it by next Wednesday and can’t sign it until Monday. (Can’t sign it until after 5 days but not more than 7 days) Panti has been finding out more since and explains all the bits and pieces – we’ll know very soon what is happening anyway.

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For years this week will be remembered not only by lesbians and gay men and their allies but also by Senators past, present and future.  It is popular to knock the upper house, it’s even popular to call for it to be scrapped. However for those of us who watch it on a regular basis it’s clear to see that many members are expert in issues and far more expert on these issues  than their counterparts in the lower house. They also have more time to think and to talk.  And for the past few days they have talked about love, about lesbians and gay men, about children, and living and let living.

It was far more powerful and meaningful than the Dáil debate and that was after a good quality debate at all stages in the lower house. The presence of opponents to the Civil Partnership Bill and the delaying tactics they used may have helped in terms of increasing the quality of the debate but even before it got testy there were some very moving second stage debates with 28 speakers (far more that the Dáil).

According to the authorities in the Oireachtas more people watched the Seanad online this week than ever before. It was an education for many and some may still not understand why a second house is needed and or what was actually taking place. But largely the debates were accessible and the members talked about things in human terms. And that maybe is what the role of the Seanad should be in the future – people elected by a wider electorate together with representatives of nominated bodies talking about the human and real face of legislation and probing and searching for answers and solutions. It should not be a mini-Dáil, a training ground for political pups or a retirement ground for the older mutts.

There is a lot written about Seanad Reform and many reports have been compiled. But it will be a long time before a debate such as the Civil Partnership Bill will take place again and the Seanad may not have that long to wait if Enda Kenny get’s his way and scraps it.  Senators were also engaged online during the debate and I saw comments from a few that they felt pressure from being watched by people who were instantly reviewing online.  This should always be the case. And if there is a wider electorate and more ownership of the upper house then the quality of the debate can only continue to improve.

As someone who regularly watches Seanad debates online this was a fine day and I’m sure we’ll be hearing about it for a long time. (Donie Cassidy must be thrilled!)  I’m happy with the results of the debate and the forthcoming legislation (and retain some reservations on the effects on low income and unwaged people), but I feel it important to mention the contributions of  Senators like Fiona O’Malley, (great chairing!) Lisa MacDonald, Geraldine Feeney, Jerry Buttimer and Ivana Bacik.   Three cheers also to David Norris for being David, witty, sharp and nearly outrageous but also speaking very movingly.  And a mention for Jim Walsh for his good wishes to lesbians and gay men in his speech at the end of the bill – this was very big of him given his fierce opposition to the bill and it won’t have been easy.

I got through all of that without mentioning Ronan Mullen eh?  The next Seanad election on the NUI panel will be interesting. Maybe a florist can send him some flowers   Wouldn’t have been so good without him either but not in the way he would appreciate.

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Published today is a document detailing the coverage RTE have given to the situation surrounding civil partnership legislation and matters pertaining to the legal recognition of same sex relationships.

Prepared by Karl Hayden I’ll leave it to him to explain why he put a great amount of effort into producing this list.

One of the reasons I chose to do this was because each time (3 times) I engaged with the protesters outside the Dáil in recent months. One of the claims they made was the lack of media coverage on the issue and their claim that the “Political Establishment” and “Liberal Media Bias” in particular RTÉ, had conspired to deny Irish people of information about Civil Partnership and that it was being done behind the people’s backs. They also claimed that the “Homosexual Liberal Agenda” got more coverage than anyone who opposed it. No doubt they will continue trying to say the Irish people have been denied information, despite the evidence.

Most of the links in the document work – so you can go back and listen to debates on reports on the issue over the years. And the next time someone says that gays and lesbians got more coverage than others or controlled the agenda one can produce this list showing lots of opponents (many with no mandate or knowledge on the subject) getting airtime. It’s a document that many students in media, sociology and history will refer to in the analysis of civil partnership and indeed the book that someone (no not me) will probably write about the campaign at some stage.

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Just in from from Senator Dan Boyle on twitter.

Seanad business has been re-organised. Civil Partnership debate to be held on Wednesday and Thursday of next week (July 7th/8th).

Momentum being used to get it done with?  Afraid of letting it fester until the 13th? Whatever the reason it’s good that it will be sorted next week.  More on times and coverage online in a few days.

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And now onto the Seanad. It’s 21 years since the first European State passed a registered partnership bill.  Ireland today is on it’s way to catching up – slow as ever.

The Bill passed without a vote and there were moving speeches at the end, some acknowledging the fact that the bill does not go far enough for many but that it is a start. And then there was Mattie McGrath TD.  He got in at the end to say his bit and he’s not happy. But he was one of the very few.

Then there was a lot of noise in the public gallery – applause and lots of it as the Ceann Comhairle closed proceedings without a vote.  I think the noise surprised a few people.

Green Minister Ciaran Cuffe TD tweeted pictures from the Dáíl Visitors Bar later on.   This week the Green Party have seen 3 Bills pass that were important to them. Many are saying that has taken 3 years for the ‘Green effect’ in government to become truly visible. (And for some in Fianna Fail to realise they are in a coalition.)

Now is the moment where I’m supposed to say something about Dermot Ahern, sorry I can’t really, he has stood up to the bigots regarding conscientious objection but that’s as far as I can go as the equality and human rights institutions of the state remain so damaged.   I will pay tribute to Charles Flanagan and Brendan Howlin for their contributions to the debate and attention to detail throughout.  It has been interesting to watch all stages of the bill so far and learn even more about parliamentary processes and to watch many others watch the formation of legislation for the first time.

This is an emotional day for many and there will be more days to come as the legislation is enacted. One regular reader of this blog is in a relationship for over 30 years and emailed me yesterday saying she and her partner can’t wait.  For others there continues to be uncertainty and great anger as their families continue to be ignored and unprotected.   And there are also very many other burning issues that need to be tackled as it’s not all over yet in terms of true equality and respect for all in Ireland.

I oppose marriage as an institution and will continue to do so and continue to argue against the way in which queers seek this recognition as a mark of respect or an equal institution.

I may not shout about civil partnerships or want a ‘hats and aisle’ day myself but I do support those who want these rights to have them and hope my right not to be labelled or put in a box will also be respected.  I also want to see a genuinely secular state where all can be free and celebrated no matter how we live our lives.

PS – Irish Rail - get ready to take down those bloody signs. The Social Welfare and Finance Bills are due in the Autumn and I look forward to the amendments to that piece of legislation in particular.

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Spot the Cóir Anti Lisbon posters being recycled.

Thanks for the pics P – all contributions are welcome to tips(@)mamanpoulet.com

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The report stage of the Civil Partnership Bill will take place in the Dáil tomorrow night between 5pm and 9 pm. (Amendments tabled for debate)

There is a liveblog available for commentary and you will be able to watch the debate on the liveblog or you can watch it by picking a stream from the Dáil here.

The past week has seen mildly frenetic activity in the papers and on radio from those opposing the bill (and not just opposing the lack of conscientious objection protection – this is homophobia is full swing) and those who support the bill and oppose the right of the Church/religious to interfere in secular matters.

We’ve even had an opinion piece from Angela Kerins, Chairperson of the Equality Authority today to support the bill and remind society that it’s a civil matter.

Mattie McGrath TD (just lost the FF whip) is blaming the Green’s for the legislation and saying that they have the run of the government. (His accusations of the Green Party bullying gave me a laugh – if they were so good at it maybe the bill would offer some protection to children’s and family rights)

No confirmation yet of when the Bill will reach the Seanad – Senator Dan Boyle confirmed to me tonight that bill will go before Seanad on July 13 – expect far more direct ire there as there are a number of opponents of the bill on both sides of the house – and they are far more likely to give their opinions and not just talk about florists, photographers and registrars.

Photos sent to me from a protest today outside the Dáil.

Are there activities planned by groups supporting the legislation tomorrow?  I know that GLEN are launching a document containing the Second Stage speeches at 1pm.   Any other press calls or celebrations?

If you want to go and watch in person in the public gallery to observe/support the debate – ring your local TD’s office and ask for tickets. (You can find the list here) The number of the Dáil switchboard is (01) 6183000.

UPDATE:
Senator Dan Boyle confirmed to me tonight that the bill will go before the Seanad on July 13th.

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Last March following their spring meeting the Catholic Bishops issued a statement and published a leaflet on marriage and the family. Yesterday they met for the summer meeting and made another statement on the Civil Partnership Bill.

* Protection and support for marriage and family

Bishops discussed the statement Why Marriage Matters which was published by the Bishops’ Conference in March in the context of the Civil Partnership Bill which has just completed its Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann. Why Marriage Matters is available in print format and has been distributed in parishes. It is also available to download from the Bishops’ website www.catholicbishops.ie.

Bishops appealed to Oireachtas members to consider Why Marriage Matters as they discuss this Bill and in particular to consider in conscience the following excerpt from it before voting on the Bill:

“Oireachtas Eireann is about to pass legislation that seeks to give same-sex relationships a standing which will be as similar as possible to marriage. The Civil Partnership Bill will not permit adoption by same-sex couples. In most other respects, including tax and social welfare purposes, same-sex civil partnerships will be regarded as being equal to marriage.

“This is not compatible with seeing the family based on marriage as the necessary basis of the social order and as indispensable to the welfare of the Nation and State. Nor does it ‘guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded.’” (Art. 41.3.1, Bunreacht na hÉireann)

Bishops called on Oireachtas members to allow for greater recognition of the proper autonomy of Churches and the right to social and civil freedom in religious matters. This includes the right of individuals to the free exercise of conscience in accordance with the objective moral order and the teaching of the Gospel. The current Bill, by exposing Civil Registrars to a fine and/or imprisonment should they act in accordance with their conscience on the matter of same-sex unions, undermines this cherished principle of a free and diverse society and imposes unjust limits on the ‘freedom of conscience and free expression and practice of religion’ guaranteed to every citizen in Article 44.2.1 of Bunreacht Na hÉireann. Bishops therefore appeal to Government to introduce amendments to the Bill to accommodate freedom of religious conscience on this vital matter. Bishops also ask Government to support a free vote for all members of Dáil Éireann and the Seanad on this Bill as it passes through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

So in brief they want Oireachtas members to have a free vote and for the Church to be allowed freedom of conscience and it and it’s members freedom to interfere/refuse to participate in duties required of them by the law in their job descriptions. Not withstanding the fact that Civil Partnership is all about Civil and nothing to do with religious organisations they are looking for it to be made into a religious issue.

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