Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland in Northern Ireland held the first of the new UK civil partnership registration ceremonies. The Government said that it would legislate following the report, but Taoiseach Bertie Ahern also said there might not be time to do so before the then upcoming election. Chaired by former TD Anne Colley, this working group included GLEN, the gay rights lobby organisation, who said they expected a recommendation for civil marriage. The group facilitated a conference on the topic in May 2006, as input to its reports which was attended by experts from other countries which have introduced civil unions and same-sex marriage.
Taoiseach refers to the system of tanistry, the Gaelic system of succession whereby a leader would appoint an heir apparent while still living. In Scottish Gaelic, "tòiseach" translates as clan chief and both words originally had similar meanings in the Gaelic languages of Scotland and Ireland. The related Welsh language word "tywysog" (current meaning: "prince") has a similar origin and meaning. It is hypothesized that both derive ultimately from the proto-Celtic *"towissākos" "chieftain, leader". The plural of "taoiseach" is "taoisigh" (). Although the Irish form "An Taoiseach" is sometimes used in English instead of "the Taoiseach", the English version of the