Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern: "[the bill would] change the legal landscape" for gay and lesbian couples and added that the absence of such legalization promoted "prejudice and inequality."

Irish Central reports:

Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern refused to allow party colleagues to abstain or vote against a new bill legalizing civil partnerships for gay couples. He banned the so-called "freedom of conscience" clause for colleagues to defy the government and vote against the bill. Ahern engaged in a debate with over 30 disgruntled parliamentary colleagues yesterday before the bill was introduced. READ MORE