Rights of same-sex couples
Introduction
In many European countries, legal recognition has been given to same-sex partnerships to varying degrees. In Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain for example, the definition of marriage includes same-sex relationships, so lesbians, gays and bisexuals have the same partnership rights as heterosexual married couples. In France and Germany, same-sex couples cannot get married but can register their 'life partnership' to give it legal status. In Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland, registered same-sex partners have almost all the rights and responsibilities of married couples.
Civil partnerships
In Ireland, the definition of marriage does not include same-sex couples, so they cannot become legally married. However, under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 a statutory civil partnership registration scheme for same-sex couples was introduced on 1st January 2011. Under the scheme registered civil partners have broadly the same rights and obligations towards each other as the rights and obligations of married couples towards each. More information is available in our document: Civil partnership and same-sex couples.
Cohabitants
Under the Act cohabitants are defined as two same-sex or opposite-sex adults who are:
- Not married to each other or in a registered civil partnership
- Not related within the prohibited degrees of relationship (broadly speaking, relationships which would make them ineligible to marry each other)
- Living together in an intimate and committed relationship.
The Act amended a number of laws where rights are already available to opposite-sex cohabitants in order to make such rights available to same-sex cohabitants. These include:
- The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 was amended to provide that a same-sex cohabitant of a deceased tenant has the same entitlement to inherit a tenancy as an opposite-sex cohabitant of a deceased tenant has
- The Civil Liability Act 1961 now provides that a same-sex cohabitant of a deceased person has the same entitlement that an opposite-sex cohabitant has to sue for damages in the event of the cohabitant’s wrongful death
- Qualified cohabitants as defined in the 2010 Act (see below) are now entitled to be informed about the registration of an enduring power of attorney under the Powers of Attorney Act 1996
Redress scheme
The Act also introduced a redress scheme for cohabiting couples including same-sex cohabiting couples. To be a a qualified cohabitant for the scheme you must have been a cohabitant for at least 5 years or for 2 years if you have a child with your partner. If one of you is still married, then neither of you may be a qualified cohabitant until the married person has been living apart from his/her spouse for at least 4 of the previous 5 years.
Tax and social welfare
Cohabiting couples (whether same sex or opposite sex) are not treated in the same way as married couples or civil partners for tax purposes.
Cohabiting opposite-sex couples were already treated in the same way as married couples in the social welfare system. Since 1 January 2010 cohabiting same-sex couples are treated the same as cohabiting opposite-sex couples. This follows changes introduced by the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010. This means that one of the cohabitants will be treated as an adult dependant when the other cohabitant makes a claim for a social welfare payment.
EU citizens and their family members
The European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 transpose EU Directive 2004/38/EC (pdf) into Irish law. The Regulations provide for the facilitation of entry and residence for EU citizens and their family members. The Regulations also provide for a wider definition of "family member" , to include a partner with whom the EU citizen has a durable relationship, duly attested, and the dependent parents, children under 21 and other dependent children of that partner. This does not involve the recognition of such partnerships for other purposes. Read more about residence rights for family members here.
Further information
For more information on cohabiting same-sex couples rights see our document: Rights of cohabiting couples
Language
Related Documents
- Rights of cohabiting couples
Cohabitants in Ireland do not possess the same rights and obligations as married couples or civil partnerships - Relationships and your rights in Ireland
Information on your legal and civil rights in relationships with a focus on cohabiting relationships, marriage, the status of same-sex relationships and the rights of grandparents. - Redress scheme for cohabiting couples
Under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 a redress scheme has been introduced for opposite-sex and same-sex cohabiting couples.
Contact Us
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