Cuffe tells us he is not copping out
Posted by Maman Poulet on 31 Oct 2007 at 08:29 pm | Tagged as: Cop Out, Equality, LGBT, Lesbian, Same Sex Partnerships
Press release just received…
Greens praise Govt pledge on same sex unions
– Legislation to be introduced by March 2008
The Green Party’s Justice spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD has welcomed the Government’s commitment to publish legislation by March 2008 that will give legal recognition to same sex unions. The development will extend to cohabiting gay couples, who register their relationship with a new agency, the same rights under the law as heterosexual couples.
Deputy Cuffe said: “This is a major step forward in Irish equality legislation. For the first time, the Irish Government has pledged to extend to same sex unions the same legal protection as that enjoyed by heterosexual couples. The ‘heads of bill’ – the first step in the legislative process – will be published by March 2008, which is a specific and significant commitment. The Government, with this step, has taken a major step forward in the recognition of equality and diversity in our society.
“I praise the Labour Party for bringing forward their private members motion on civil partnership. The Green Party’s TDs will be voting against the proposal as the new legislation will better address the many legal complexities involved in this issue,” concluded Deputy Cuffe.
More comment later – am watching the debate live on the web at the moment. But first reaction – An agency – A fucking AGENCY???
Updates to this post can be found here
I mailed him earlier today saying that although I’d voted for him in the last election, I would not be doing so in the next one in view of his lack of support for today’s bill. I got a stupid mail back that basically said the same thing as this press release. Psshaw!
I hear a load of “Arret” tabs were delivered to Fianna-Glas offices today. Lots of fancy footwork there praising the Labour Party that will just decimate the Greens next time out.
What’s so complex? Is heterosexual marriage complex? And I thought the “Agency” was the State! Or maybe the ‘agency’ should be same-sex couples… ok too sociological a point. So does that mean that we going to be “special” then? I can’t decide whether I want to be the girly elf or the boy hobbit under the bed … are we dreaming? Are we?
Can we suggest names for the agency (premium phone line with donations to M Woods)? My suggestion is the GPA (Gay Protection Agency)… cos that’s what they want…
Agency? Is there a civil marriage agency?
“the same rights under the law as heterosexual couples”
Ha, will same sex couples have the same right to marry as heterosexual couples?
..and dontcha just know that all those lickspittle gays – you know the ones who get piles of funding to ensure that they are not accountable to the lesbian and gay community they claim to represent, will be invited to sit on the Board of the “Agency” to help promote the persepctive that crumbs are indeed as good as a sliced loaf.
So, we get to see heads of bill by March 2008, which means we’ll see an actual bill some time in 2009/10, after which it has to go through Dáil debates, committee stage etc. What are the odds we’ll actually have this implemented in the lifetime of this Government?
And does putting us on the same footing as co-habiting siblings really reflect the type of change the Greens promised us?
[...] Posted by suzybie on 30 Oct 2007 at 08:14 pm | Tagged as: Irish Politics, LGBT, Queer, irishelection2007, KAL Case, Same Sex Partnerships, Gay, Homophobia, Equality Updates to this post can be found here and [...]