United Kingdom, 2 Nov 2011 - The Home Office has confirmed its decision to allow religious buildings to host civil partnerships by the end of 2011. When civil partnerships were introduced in 2005, the law stated that they could not be held in religious buildings, nor contain any religious language.

The report details the regulations needed to enforce the Equality Act 2010, which removed the prohibition on holding the ceremonies at churches, synagogues and other religious buildings.

[Repost: EEE News - 29 Sept 2011] The coalition parties are at odds over gay rights in their responses to the justice minister's letter to the four parliamentary parties in August that expressed concerns about current laws - which do not allow same-sex partnerships - and laid out four possible options on the table.

28 Juli 2011, Poland - On 27 July 2011, the Polish Parliament heard the first reading of a civil partnership bill which would regulate matters for same- and different-sex couples. The bill was read in a joint session of the Justice and Human Rights Committee and the Social Politics and Family Committee. The members voted (29 to 10) to send the bill further to a special subcommittee. Right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS) announced it would not take part in that committee.

 

Ireland, 9 June 2011 -  The Minister for Finance Michael Noonan T.D. today published the Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011. The Bill provides for changes to existing tax legislation as a consequence of the passing of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010.

Ireland, 20 May 2011 - It has been reported that the changes necessary to equalise the tax treatment of civil partners will not be included in the upcoming finance bill. A government spokesperson has indicated that more time is needed to draft the new finance laws which will instead be included in the finance III bill in the coming weeks.

Tralee, Ireland, 28 Apr 2011 - Section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998 allows for employers to discriminate against prospective employees in a manner which would otherwise breach employment law where the employer is a "religious, educational or medical institution which is under the direction or control of a body established for religious purposes or whose objectives include the provision of services in an environment which promotes certain religious values".

Liechtenstein, 15 February 2011 – The legislative procedure to pass the Civil Partnership Bill of Lichtenstein is moving a step further. The Government submitted to the Landtag the answers to the question raised by the MPs [Presseportal.ch report].

Ireland, 22 Feb 2011 - The General Register Office of Ireland have produced a booklet on entering a Civil Partnership, available at www.groireland.ie

Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) have produced a short information note on civil partnerships, available here.