On Wednesday the Finance No. 3 Bill 2011 was debated in Dáil Eireann and passed through second stage without a vote.

The Bill seeks to revise the tax codes which are affected by the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights of Cohabitants Act 2010.  One clause of the bill will give a child whose parents are in a civil partnership the same rights as a child whose parents are married – this means that children of civil partners will be treated the same for inheritance tax as children of a married couple

You can read the debate here.

There was overwhelming positivity in the debate with a few mentions of farmers and the lack of information and consideration on matters of cohabitation. Of particular note is the contribution of John Lyons, (Labour, Dublin North West).  One of two out gay men in the Oireachtas, Deputy Lyons refers to the significance of his election and the major changes there have been in Irish society since 1993.