Press release from Changing Attitude Ireland 12th March 2008

Church of Ireland confirms equality on pensions for civil partners

Changing Attitude Ireland welcomes the confirmation by the Church of Ireland Clergy Pensions Board that Civil Partners will have the same pension rights in the Fund as surviving spouses.

A spokesperson for Changing Attitude Ireland expressed the wish that the Irish government would match the commitment of the Church of Ireland to social justice and end its discrimination against same-sex couples in the Republic. Changing Attitude Ireland called on the Irish government to legislate for equal treatment between civil partners and spouses in both state and private occupational pension schemes.

Changing Attitude Ireland is an all-Ireland network of people, gay and straight, lay and ordained working for the full affirmation of gay and lesbian Christians within the Church of Ireland. It advocates that the Church of Ireland fully accepts, welcomes and offers equality of opportunity to lesbian and gay people, including the ordination of partnered lesbian and gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex relationships in church using an authorised liturgy.

Civil partnership for same sex couples has been available in Northern Ireland since December 2005. Under the Belfast Agreement 1998 the Irish government committed itself to “at least an equivalent level of protection of human rights as will pertain in Northern Ireland”. Changing Attitude Ireland has called on the Irish government to provide in the forthcoming legislation on civil partnership no less equality for gays and lesbians in the Republic than that already available in Northern Ireland.