(1) The Minister may, by order, declare that a class of legal relationship entered into by two parties of the same sex is entitled to be recognised as a civil partnership if under the law of the jurisdiction in which the legal relationship was entered into -

(a) the relationship is exclusive in nature,

(b) the relationship is permanent unless the parties dissolve it through the courts,

(c) the relationship has been registered under the law of that jurisdiction, and

(d) the rights and obligations attendant on the relationship are, in the opinion of the Minister, sufficient to indicate that the relationship would be treated comparably to a civil partnership.

(1A) For the purposes of subsection (1), a legal relationship entered into in an embassy or diplomatic mission of a state under the laws of that state shall be deemed to have been entered into in that state.

(1B) Subsection (1A) shall not apply to a legal relationship entered into in an embassy or diplomatic mission in the State on or after 1 January 2011.

(2) An order under subsection (1) entitles and obliges the parties to the legal relationship to be treated as civil partners under the law of the State from the later of -

(a) the day which is 21 days after the date on which the order is made, and