The section of the Civil Partnership Bill dealing with cohabitation between heterosexual couples could be open to challenge because it will impose legal responsibilities on such couples without them even realising it.

According to The Irish Times, John Mee, a lecturer in law at UCC, told a Law Society conference at the weekend that a person could become a cohabitee under the law and not be aware of the fact.

The Bill means that when a couple have been cohabiting for three years or more – two if they have children – certain legal responsibilities automatically come into being.

For example, where one partner in the relationship has become financially dependent on the other partner, the financially dependent partner can apply to court to be granted a maintenance order and/or a property settlement.

The only way a couple can opt out of this scheme is if they come to an independent legal agreement of their own. Legal experts say many couples will be unaware of this or won’t have the knowledge of how to arrive at such an agreement.

In addition, it will be very difficult in some instances for the State to prove when a cohabiting relationship started.of broadcasts and publications originating on their national territory should not be questioned in this way. – freedom of expression cannot be totally unlimited when it comes to communications aimed at children.”