Civil Partnership bill being debated this morning in committee

[Q-Tours]

I can't seem to get a clear answer on this anywhere. I am living with my partner/kids/mortgage etc. My partner is now unemployed, but because we are not married, the tax credits cannot be passed onto me, although for sw payments we can be means tested and treated as a married couple. Will this civil partnership act change this discrimination ?

The Second Stage debates suggest that the tax and social welfare aspects of cohabitation will be dealt with in separate legislation. The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Justice etc but there are no debates etc online yet, so I doubt that they've considered it.

[pd_phoenix]

here is an article from David Quinn regarding the bill and straight couples

David Quinn: Cohabiting couples face a rude awakening when new legislation abolishes 'living in sin' - Analysis, Opinion - Independent.ie

granted it is from Quinn so a pinch of salt but I have to agree this part of the bill, and not the part regarding gay couples, is what is undermining marriage

[KingKane]

good news and yes I am lucky been able to have the option to get married, which I believe should be the case for gay couples too. But I also have the right not to get married and not to be discrimanated by making that decision.

Huh? If you have the chance to be married and want the benefits that the state and society give to being married then get married. Otherwise it's all a load of nonsense. It was one thing not to get married when it was so tied up with religion and the churches but now it is not.

[Congalltee]

Has any raised the point that co-habitation part of the legislation is unconstitutional?

Any co-habiting couple, in order to prevent the State intervening in their relationship have to each to solicitors to draw up an agreement. Where the couple reach no agreement, one partner could gain property rights purely from living in the other's house. It is a fundamental attack on property rights.

http://www.politics.ie/justice/11934...al-unfair.html

In relation to the same-sex partnership aspect, that should be shelved in favour of amending the Civil Marriage Act to allow for same sex unions. It us unlikely that the Supreme Court would strike it down, given the text of the constitiution is silent on gender and we are not stuck with the views of the voters of 1937.


It is almost as if the legislation is drafted with a view to it failing.

[PUFF DADDY]

Huh? If you have the chance to be married and want the benefits that the state and society give to being married then get married. Otherwise it's all a load of nonsense. It was one thing not to get married when it was so tied up with religion and the churches but now it is not.

Married couple - one of them unemployed. SW means test them. Revenue allow tax credits to be transferred to the sole worker of the household.

Cohabitating couple - one of them unemployed. SW means test them. Revenue do NOT ALLOW tax credits to be transferred to the sole worker of the household.

That is my problem with the current system.

[Victor Meldrew]

Married couple - one of them unemployed. SW means test them. Revenue allow tax credits to be transferred to the sole worker of the household.

Cohabitating couple - one of them unemployed. SW means test them. Revenue do NOT ALLOW tax credits to be transferred to the sole worker of the household.

That is my problem with the current system.

Then get married. Unless one party is still married etc... you are not being discriminated against if you choose not to get married.

The only issues that should be resolved here for couples is some sort of partial "tax refund" whilst you "exit" one marriage and enter into another one.

[KingKane]

Married couple - one of them unemployed. SW means test them. Revenue allow tax credits to be transferred to the sole worker of the household.

Cohabitating couple - one of them unemployed. SW means test them. Revenue do NOT ALLOW tax credits to be transferred to the sole worker of the household.

That is my problem with the current system.

SW means test you because we've a limited amount of money to give out and if you are living together then your costs are less than would be the case if you were living separately.

If you won't sign a piece of paper to ensure that the relationship is recognised by the state then that's your problem not the state's.

[oceanclub]

At the moment Dermot Ahern is talking about how marriage is between a man and a woman and there must be a special protection for marriage. He's been interrupted for making an opening statement and seems quite unimpressed.

Is he speaking as Minister for Justice, or is that an ex-cathedra pronouncement from the Pope of the Church of Dermotology?

Join the Church of Dermotology | blasphemy.ie

P.