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Today the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD., published Finance (No.3) Bill 2011 which will give effect to the taxation aspects of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights of Cohabitants Act 2010. The Finance Bill will allow for civil partners to be treated the same…

A NATIONAL gathering of concerned citizens is to be held in the summer with a view to re-invigorating Ireland’s democratic institutions and restoring trust in public life.We the Citizens, an independent national forum aimed at showing the benefits of public engagement with national decision making,…

NATIONAL CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD IN JUNEWe the Citizens, an independent national initiative aimed at showing how Ireland could benefit from citizens coming together in new forms of public decision-making, has been launched in Dublin. The objective is to help to renew democracy and…

Older & Bolder Premiers Online Campaign Film Made By Award-Winning Director to Help Defend The State Pension 21 October 2010 Alliance to undertake nationwide lobby and petition campaign over coming weeks Government should focus on reforming tax reliefs rather than further cutting the State Pension…

By Noel Whelan.  Extraordinary patience has finally paid off and constitutional change will one day follow. The overwhelming parliamentary support witnessed again this week for the legalisation of same sex civil partnerships arises from the basic decency and generosity of the Irish people. Politicians across…

By Harry McGee.  Legislation giving effect to civil partnerships passed all stages in the Seanad by 48 to four votes tonight.The first civil registrations for same-sex couples are likely to take place next January following overwhelming approval of the enabling legislation by the Oireachtas tonight.The…

by Niamh Connolly The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), a Geneva-based organisation headed by former president Mary Robinson, has raised serious concerns about the Criminal Justice Bill. The legislation is due to pass its final stage in the Dail on Friday, but the ICJ has…

GLEN is an Atlantic grantee. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education heard that homophobic bullying needs to be tackled through the Department of Education instructing schools to include specific mention of it in their anti-bullying policies. In a joint submission by GLEN ( Gay and Lesbian…

by Carol Coulter The Human Rights Commission has sought an urgent meeting with the Department of Justice to discuss the cut of 24 per cent in its budget, which it said will leave it completely unable to perform its functions. In a statement following a…

by Eilish O'Regan, Senan Molony and Aine Kerr Most of the 140,000 pensioners affected by the controversial Budget measures will still lose out on a full over-70s medical card, despite an embarrassing government climbdown last night. In the face of a blistering backlash, Health Minister…