The first Civil Partnership ceremonies for same-sex couples
will take place in April after Justice Minister, Dermot Ahern, signed the
Commencement Order for the Civil Partnership Act yesterday.

It means that the Act will become part of the law on January
1 and from that date same-sex couples will be able to lodge the required three
months notice with a Civil Registrar and then enter a Civil Partnership.

Civil Partnerships will give same-sex couples the rights of
married couples apart from the right to jointly adopt. However, if Law Reform
Commission proposals unveiled this week are implemented, a gay or lesbian
partner could be granted legal guardianship of his or her partner’s child even
against the wishes of the other natural parent if a court agrees.

This means it will become more common for a child to have
three or more legal parents in some circumstances.

Mr Ahern said he was “particularly pleased” to sign the
Order and said it recognised “diversity”.

The law will also allow for the recognition of foreign
same-sex ‘marriages’ and civil partnerships.

The new law will force church halls available for hire to be
rented to same-sex couples if they ask. It makes no provision for freedom of
conscience and religion unlike some comparable laws overseas.