At least there was something of a debate on it in the Seanad. Nonetheless, the Civil Partnership Bill has passed with the overwhelming support of both Houses. They shouldn't be fooled into thinking this necessarily reflects public opinion, however.

Let's remember that all the main parties supported the divorce referendum in 1995 even though half the electorate didn't. All the main parties, bar Sinn Fein, supported the Lisbon treaty, and it was defeated first time around and passed second time mainly because of the economic collapse and the fear factor.

In any event, I write about the passage of the Civil Partnership Bill in my column today in The Irish Independent and here it is.

(Follow David Quinn on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DavQuinn )