The first same-sex civil partnership registrations will take place in Ireland this April. Ireland’s Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 came into effect from 1 January 2011, however couples were required to give a three month notice period before registrations could begin. This means that the waiting period for many couples will be up in April. Civil partners will be treated in the same way as spouses under the Irish tax and social welfare codes. New rights and obligations will include maintenance obligations, protection of a shared home, pension rights and succession.