Resources

Civil Partnership

The Civil Partnership Act became 'live' on 1st January 2011. Same-sex couples can now enter a Civil Partnership in Ireland, which carries an extensive range of marriage-like rights and obligations. These rights and obligations also apply to almost all foreign same-sex civil marriages and civil partnerships. This section answers some of the FAQs on civil partnership, including outlining how to enter a civil partnership

  • Gallery: Celebrations of Love and Committment

    From April to December 2011, over 530 couples celebrated their civil partnerships with familes, friends and neighbours across every county in Ireland. Here are photos from some of those celebrations.

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  • Civil Partnerships in Ireland: The numbers

    Civil Partnership displays a cross-country success as every county celebrates them. A breakdown of the 965 Civil Partnerships which have taken place in Ireland show that civil partnership ceremonies have been held in every county in Ireland.

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  • Know Your Rights: the Rights and Obligations of Civil Partners

    The Chief Justice of Ireland launched this publication in December 2012. The guide explains in plain language the rights and obligations civil partners have to each other. It applies both to those entering civil partnership in Ireland and those who have entered foreign legal same-sex relationships that are recognised in Ireland as Irish civil partnerships.

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  • Recognition of Foreign Relationships

    In December 2012, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter TD, signed an Order with increased the number of foreign marriages and civil partnerships/unions which are automatically recognised in Ireland with all the rights and obligations attaching to Irish civil partnerships. 43 such foreign relationships from 35 different jurisdictions are now recognsed in Ireland.

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  • How to Enter a Civil Partnership

    The procedures and requirements for entering a civil partnership in Ireland are substantially the same as those for a civil marriage. There are no residency requirements and provided the notice and eligibility requirements are met, it is not necesssary that prospective civil partners live in Ireland or in any part of Ireland.

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  • Civil Partners and Taxation

    Civil partners are now treated equally to married couples across all major aspects of taxation including income tax, tax on the transfer of assets and taxes relating to taxation. The children of civil partners are also treated the same as the children of spouses in key areas of taxation such as inheritance.

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  • Civil Partnership, Immigration and Citizenship

    Under Civil Partnership, same-sex civil partners are now treated the same as opposite-sex married couples across all aspects of Immigration. Foreign same-sex civil partnerships and marriages are treated as Irish civil partnership for immigration purposes also. Citizenship laws have been updated to treat civil partners the same as opposite-sex married couples.

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  • Civil Partnership and Social Welfare

    In parallel with the Civil Partnership Act, the government also passed a Social Welfare Act which provides for Civil Partners to be treated the same in social welfare provisions as opposite-sex married couples and cohabiting same-sex couples the same as cohabiting opposite-sex couples.

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