What the new legislation will mean for couples

THE Civil Partnership Bill will, for the first time, give legal recognition to same-sex couples in Ireland.

It will recognise same-sex civil partnerships.

Couples who register their relationship with a civil registrar will have many of the same entitlements and will be subject to many of the same legally enforceable obligations as parties to a civil marriage.

These include protections and obligations across areas, such as:

* Protection of the couple's shared home.

* Domestic violence.

* Residential tenancies.

* Succession.

* Pensions.

* Taxation.

* Social welfare.

* Immigration.

The bill also provides rights for cohabiting couples, both same-sex and heterosexual, who are neither married nor in a civil partnership.

SIC: II