Civil Unions Bill (Malta)

The Civil Unions Bill (Maltese: Att dwar l-Unjonijiet Ċivili) of Malta is a bill in Malta's Parliament. The bill would extend civil unions to same-sex couples in the country, offering them similar rights and responsibilities as are applied to married couples.

Background
The bill was introduced by the Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs, and Civil Liberties on September 23. It had its first reading on September 30, the legislature's first day in session after the summer hiatus. The bill was put on the second reading calendar on October 22, and debate was held that day, with Helena Dalli speaking on behalf of the government and Simon Busuttil, Mario de Marco, and Claudette Buttigieg speaking for the opposition party. Second reading was interrupted at adjournment that day, and while second reading has remained on the agenda for every legislative sitting since, as of November 9, Parliament had not returned to resume debate on the bill.

Timeline

 * 2013-09-23: Bill introduced, Bill No. 20
 * 2013-09-30, motion #67: First reading
 * 2013-10-22: Second reading
 * TBA: Second reading, continued