The Act also provides rights for participants in long-term cohabiting relationships who have not entered into a civil partnership or marriage.
[1] As required by the legislation, and contrary to some subsequent press coverage,[2] the ceremony took place in public at the Civil Registration Office in Dublin.
The Act provides for the succession of property, pension entitlements, domestic violence, and maintenance in the event of a breakdown of a relationship.
The Act does not make any provision for tax entitlements and allowances, nor does it grant any social welfare benefits to civil partners.
[6] The Minister for Justice and Law Reform Dermot Ahern said: "This is one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation to be enacted since independence.
[8] The date of commencement of the Act was dependent on further legislation in the areas of taxation and social welfare, which was enacted separately.
[10] The Minister for Justice and Law Reform also signed, on 23 December 2010, an order under the Act, declaring certain classes of registered foreign relationship to be entitled to be recognised as a civil partnership in Ireland.