IRELAND: Gay Pol Launches Challenge To Recognize Her Canadian Marriage

An Irish politician and her wife have filed a challenge to have their Canadian marriage recognized at home.

The couple’s bid to have their marriage recognised began in 2004, before Ireland introduced provisions for separate civil partnerships for gay couples, which came into effect at the start of 2011. Senator Zappone said today: “It became clear to us that, even if we succeeded with our original case, the provisions within the Civil Registration Act and the Civil Partnership Act would remain. “So it became imperative to shelve our Supreme Court appeal and proceed to challenge this Act before the High Court.” Among other questions, High Court proceedings will examine whether the Civil Registration Act 2004, which defined marriage as being between a man and a woman, is valid under the constitution’s equality protections. The Civil Partnership Act, which prohibits people who have registered a civil partnership from marrying, will also be examined.