On June 24 , 2004 , Fine Gael proposed legalizing civil partnerships for same-sex and opposite-sex couples who choose not to marry , the first Irish political party to do so . In November 2004 , in reaction to the legal challenge on tax issues Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern said " Couples want equality and we should try to deal with some of those issues " but added that moves to legalise gay marriage are " a long way off " . During the 2004 Irish presidential election , Fianna Fáil , Fine Gael , and Progressive Democrats , produced policies or made statements in favor of varying forms of recognition for same-sex couples . During the 2007 Irish general election , the manifestos of Fianna Fáil , Fine Gael , and Progressive Democrats , supported civil unions for same-sex couples . All parties ran advertisements in Gay Community News ( GNC ) with commitments to same-sex couples
2004 Irish presidential election
2004 Irish presidential election
LGBT conservatism