Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern will speak to Fianna Fail TDs and Senators concerned about the Civil Partnership Bill before it is introduced to the Dáil later today. 

A number of them, including Senator Jim Walsh, are believed to be pressing for an amendment to the Bill to provide for freedom of conscience for individuals and religious organisations. 

Senator Walsh has said “freedom of conscience for people must be recognised and allowed for”. 

The proposed legislation would convey civil status on the registered partnerships of cohabiting heterosexual and same-sex couples. 

Attempts have been made to resolve differences within Fianna Fáil on the Bill and this morning’s meeting has been organised by Wexford TD Seán Connick, chairman of the party’s justice policy committee. 

The Greens’ justice spokesman, Ciarán Cuffe, has said he was firmly opposed to a freedom of conscience amendment. 

“I’m aware of calls for a ‘freedom of conscience’ amendment to be stitched into the legislation to give people a religious ‘opt-out’ in providing everyday goods and services to gay couples,” Mr Cuffe said. 

Calls for a conscience clause to exempt individuals and organisations who are opposed to same-sex civil unions have been prompted by a series of cases in other countries where groups and persons have been prosecuted for refusing to give their services to civil union ceremonies. 

Last year, in New Jersey, a Methodist group was deprived of tax-exempt status for refusing to allow its grounds to be used for a post same-sex civil union reception. 

In New Mexico, a state civil rights commission fined an evangelical wedding photographer $6,637 because he would not photographer same-sex commitment ceremony.