Or so the feeling will be amongst many in the lesbian and gay community. Fianna Fáil are also failing children in this situation if this morning’s Irish Times lead on the 200 pages of legislation on civil partnership and recognition of cohabitants is to be believed. However FF never promised us a rose garden!

Remember I’m one of the ones not obsessed by marriage (I’ve already been preached at about this – pardon me for seeking equality and supporting a range of options for family recognition and diversity in Ireland. )

Back to the breaking news…

THE GOVERNMENT is finalising legislation on civil partnerships that will extend many of the same benefits and legal obligations of marriage to same-sex couples, writes CARL O’BRIEN , Social Affairs Correspondent.

However, it will not provide any right for same-sex couples to be considered as joint adoptive parents, despite a strong campaign by gay equality groups.

Under the heads of the new Civil Partnership Bill, which runs to more than 200 pages, same-sex partners will be able to to avail of marriage-like benefits in a range of areas such as property, social welfare, succession, maintenance, pensions and tax.

The dissolution of civil partnerships will also mirror marriage in that applications to dissolve such unions may only be made once both parties have been living apart for four out of the previous five years, just as with traditional divorce applications.

It looks like Green Party officials are fighting to keep any shred of political respect at the moment in heated discussions (well their version of heated discussions – resists urge to make solar powered joke here cos that would be juvenile.)

However, it is understood that last-minute negotiations are ongoing between Green Party and Government officials on whether some form of legal recognition can be provided for gay couples who already parent children, but who have no mechanism to establish a joint legal connection with their child.

So lesbian and gay couples who don’t already parent children but plan to do so in the future won’t be covered? Lock up yer ovaries. Actually maybe that’s the Iona Institute who are trying to help the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform hold the keys?