Irish Election - Coverage of Irish Politics, News and Current Affairs

Here is something that people can help me with. McDowell is in favour of civil partnership of co-habiting couples be they gay or straight. Also, he is now in favour of adoption rights and, I am presuming, duel-guardianship. So why are the PDs not just out in favour of gay marriage? I mean, what part [...]

Looks like Labour is again splitting on an issue not long after the youth wing voted against the Fine Gael pact. This time on the issue of Gay marriage. From the Sunday Business Post: Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte faces threats of resignation from members of the party’s Equality Group if the parliamentary party fails [...]

Can someone please explain to the government the concept of ‘joined up’ thinking? On Tuesday the Department of Justice said it will be opting out of Brussels II/Rome II, yesterday the Governments Lawyers were saying that gay couples could not get married as marriage is special protection for opposite sex couples (subs. req.), that’s after [...]

The Green Party have produced a policy document supporting Gay Marriage and Civil Partnership. It will be interesting to see will the more liberal parties now follow suit and whether there will be any backlash against this.

Yesterday the state called Professor Patricia Casey to give evidence on their behalf in the case being taken against them by Dr. Katherine Zappone and Dr. Ann Louise Gilligan. Professor Casey is a psychiatrist at the Mater Hospital and also based at UCD. Professor Casey is a member of the Irish Bishops Commission on Social [...]

With all the parties being vague about it or ignorant of it, finally we have a party that seems to be coming out clearly that they are in favour of gay marriage.

Dear Eamon Gilmore, How ya doing. Just a quick tip for you: if, as you say… The mission of the Irish Labour Party is not just to change government but to change Irish society and to make Ireland a fair place to work and to love How about starting to make Ireland a fairer place [...]

[Originally posted at Potatriotique] Friday, 26th May 2006, saw the culmination of a number of public events this month broadly dealing with various aspects of family diversity, that is to say, families outside the traditional mammy-daddy-2point4-children marital unit. After the recent launch and speech in April by our Bertie at the GLEN offices, the month [...]

It is the ultimate struggle for many people. The decision they thought they would never have to make. The decision that divides many to the very core. Usually many people would be happy seeing people throwing stuff at McDowell thinking the “Herr McDowell authoritarian Minister for injustice” deserves everything he gets. But who do they [...]

On 3rd April 2006, Ireland witnessed a “historic” moment, and all the gays were “vindicated” when the Taoiseach opened the offices of GLEN (Gay & Lesbian Equality Network). Apparently. I was there, and so I suppose I should marvel at this “historic” occasion, and rejoice at my “vindication”. Excuse me, while I find my queer [...]

Quietly and without much fanfare the Government have amended the Parental Leave Act to allow those in domestically dependable relationships to be able to take Force Majeur Leave. The sexual orientation of those relationships will be immaterial. Minister Frank Fahey introduced the amendment during a committee meeting of the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence [...]