Supreme Court ruling in ‘de facto’ family case shows urgent need for access to civil marriage for gay and lesbian parents.

Court’s finding that ‘de facto’ families do not exist in law means that hundreds of same-sex couples raising children have no recourse to legal protection, says NOISE.

Media Contact: Noelle Moran/Paul Kenny, Noise Media

Noise Email: media@lgbtnoise.ie

Phone Noelle Moran/Paul Kenny (086 244 5137)

“Thursday’s decision is another huge blow to the well-being and security of hundreds of Irish families and in particular to vulnerable Irish children, says NOISE Organiser Paul Kenny.

“The current government refuses to recognise the rights, needs and even the very existence of gay parents and their children in the Civil Partnership Bill.

“With Thursday’s ruling, the Supreme Court has made it very clear that a gay couple with children cannot be considered a family under the provisions of the Irish Constitution.

“Our Constitution defines family as being based in marriage. There is now a moral obligation on the government to legislate as soon as possible for access to civil marriage for same-sex couples in order to allow then and their children to avail of all of the vital legal protections reserved for families. This is the only child-centred option.”

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Notes to editors:

The Civil Partnership Bill and Children:

Bill currently before Dáil. The proposed Bill will offer a number of legal rights to adults, but will not carry all the same rights and protections as Civil Marriage. Civil partners will not have access to family status offered in the Constitution. Families being raised by same-sex couples are not recognised or acknowledged – a registered civil partner will be unable to adopt their partner’s child and children will not be allowed to have a legal bond with their non-biological parent. This denies children access to maintenance, inheritance, visitation, next-of-kin and other rights with respect to one of their parents.

NOISE

Noise was founded in 2007 to campaign for the lifting of the ban on Civil Marriage between same-sex couples in Ireland. It is an independent, party-politically unaffiliated organisation and seeks to reach out to all people, gay or straight, who believe in equality and human rights for all (see www.lgbtnoise.ie for more).