Despite clear public support for same-sex civil marriage in Ireland, the Government denies gay and lesbian couples equal rights in a civil partnership bill published Friday. 

MarriageEquality calls on the Government of Ireland to acknowledge that the civil partnership bill forces gays and lesbians to follow a set of rights that are second rate, and solidifies that gay and lesbian relationships will be viewed and treated as inferior to those of married couples. The organization urges the Government provide same-sex couples equality by granting civil marriage instead of the bill's partnerships. 

Lansdowne Market Research's study concluded 81% of the public is in agreement when it comes to everyone getting treated equally by the state, regardless of their sexuality. Denying gay and lesbian citizens civil marriage is a form of discrimination to 61% of pollers. 

Grainne Healy, Co-Chair, MarriagEquality, commented, "MarriagEquality want equal marriage rights for lesbians and gay men. Civil partnership is not marriage like, and does not confer marriage like rights on lesbians and gay men who choose to legally register their relationship through it. The civil partnership legislation is deficient on so many levels and discriminates against lesbians, gay men and their children to such an extent that MarriagEquality are calling on to Government to legislate for civil marriage now."

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Particularly bothersome is that the Government completely ignores same-sex parents and children in the civil partnership legislation. All children deserve equal access to their parents, and parents to their children, as well as any other rights that all children in Ireland have. 75% of the public agree that the state should treat all children equally. With civil partnership, gay and lesbian couples would not be considered eligible as applicants to be considered as adoptive parents, even for the biological child of their registered civil partner. 

Moninne Griffith, Director, MarriagEquality said, "Discrimination against lesbians and gay men continues through the announcement of the civil partnership bill. It simply isn't enough and reinforces the belief that we are outsiders on the margins of society. The fact that through this bill the Government has given us 'some' rights but not equal rights is fundamentally flawed. Lesbians and gay men should be entitled to the same rights and responsibilities as their straight counterparts. The time for change is now." Ms Griffith continued, "Ireland is in the midst of uncertain times, and whether gay, lesbian or straight we must unite to overcome adversity. The same is true for the matter of equal access to civil marriage. It is not just an issue for lesbians and gay men, but for every human being on this island. Until Ireland is a society of equals, we must unite and fight for what is right."