About Civil Partnerships

Marriage Equality would like to congratulate all the couples who have registered their notice of intention to enter a civil partnership with registrars all across the country since January 2011 and to the couples who have already registered their Civil Partnership, like Hugh and Barry (right)

Hugh Walsh and Barry Dignam (Photo by Audrey O'Reilly)We wish you every happiness on your special day and look forward to same sex relationships being recognised by the State for the first time in Ireland and the rights (and obligations) that will flow from this recognition. We'll be celebrating with you as we continue to push for equality for same-sex couples and all our families and we hope that you will too.

For more information on registering your notice of intention to enter a civil partnership, please visit the Civil Partnership section of the General Register Office's website.

For information on Taxation for Civil Partners, please read "Taxation and Civil Partnerships - Frequently Asked Questions on Civil Partnerships" - a new publication by the Revenue.

(NOTE - Taxation and Civil Partnerships has been updated as of January 16, 2012)

What is a Civil Partnership?

The Irish Government enacted the Civil Partnership Act in 2010 as an attempt to provide some rights and recognition to same sex couples by legally recognising their relationships for the first time. Although the Civil Partnership system offers same sex couples SOME of the same rights as civil marriage, it does not include ALL the rights and responsibilities given to married couples, and therefore same sex couples do not enjoy equality. This is why Marriage Equality continues to push for civil marriage rights for same sex couples, our families and our children.