Mary White TD is to take over responsibility for the passage of the Civil Partnership Bill from Justice Minister Dermot Ahern after yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle.

Ms White takes over the Bill because of her promotion to a junior ministry post and because responsibility for equality is being moved from the Department of Justice to her revamped department.

She is also taking over responsibility for the Bill within the Green party from Ciaran Cuffe.

Ms White takes over the Bill as it goes before the Oireachtas Committee on Justice today.

The Bill gives same-sex couples the same rights as married couples, apart from the right to jointly adopt. It also enables cohabiting couples to apply for maintenance payments and property settlements if they split after three years, or after two years if children are involved.

The Government has refused, to date, to consider any amendment to the Bill which might safeguard conscience rights.

Because of this, the Bill will force religious organisations to treat same-sex couples as the equivalent of married couples for pension payments. Churches could be forced to allow same-sex couples to use their facilities for post civil union celebrations.

Service providers with conscientious objections to same-sex civil unions, such as photographers can also be compelled to provide their services under the new Bill.