Three FF Senators resign whip over Civil Partnership Bill

THREE FIANNA Fáil Senators resigned the party whip yesterday because of their objections to elements of the Civil Partnership Bill.

This brings to 10 the number of Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators now outside the parliamentary party.

Senators Jim Walsh, Labhras Ó Murchú and John Hanafin, a brother of Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin, said they regretted their decision to “relinquish the whip” in a letter to Government Chief Whip John Curran.

“It is a matter of regret that we conscientiously find this to be the only appropriate avenue open to us and we would like to offer our apologies to both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice for any difficulties that this might present,” the letter said. “Recognising the genuine efforts being made by the Taoiseach and his Cabinet to overcome the current recession and for any avoidance of doubt, we would like to say that it is clearly our intention to support the continuing efforts of the Government to restore a functional banking system, improve the economy, and fulfil the Programme for Government.”

Speaking in the Seanad, Mr Hanafin said being without the whip was “like being outside the door of the family home”.

The Senators who resigned the whip claimed the Bill was flawed and discriminatory. They sought the introduction of a so-called “freedom of conscience” clause to allow people, such as registrars, to opt out of “facilitating” same-sex civil partnerships; an exemption from sanctions for religious bodies refusing to rent out properties for civil partnership celebrations; and the extension of protection to unmarried siblings living in the same house.

As Fine Gael and Labour support the Bill, their move will not affect its passage. It provides for the rights and responsibilities of heterosexual and homosexual cohabitants as well as the registration of same-sex civil partners. Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern told the Seanad he was “deeply proud” of the legislation.

However, Independent Senator David Norris, who has campaigned for gay rights for four decades, criticised the Bill, saying it did not grant equality to gay people.

Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan said children’s rights were not to the forefront of the Bill and it did not contain robust protections for the children of civil partners.

Bill passes without vote: page 8