The Act of 2004 is amended by inserting the following Part after section 59:

"Part 7A Registration of Civil Partnerships

59A. Definitions (Part 7A).

 In this Part -

‘civil partnership registration form’ means a form prescribed under section 59C;

‘register’ means the register of civil partnerships.

59B. Notification of civil partnerships.

(1) A civil partnership registered in the State, after the commencement of this section, between persons of any age shall not be valid in law unless the persons concerned -

(a) notify any registrar in writing in a form for the time being standing approved by an tArd-Chláraitheoir of their intention to enter into a civil partnership not less than 3 months prior to the date on which the civil partnership is to be registered, and

(b) attend at the office of that registrar, or at any other convenient place specified by that registrar, at any time during normal business hours not less than 5 days (or a lesser number of days that may be determined by that registrar) before that date and make and sign a declaration in his or her presence that there is no impediment to the registration of the civil partnership.