Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Senator Power's observations that there should be cross-party consensus on the issue. The Minister of State said she will return with substantial responses to the amendments in due course.

I disagree slightly with Senator Power about the following. The legislation is probably a little bit more complicated than straightforward because we have spent the bones of an hour discussing three amendments. It is important to take time to discuss legislation. We should spend a lot more time discussing amendments because it will enhance the legislation and ensure it is foolproof.

I would sincerely like to see the Bill enacted before the next school term commences, which is a reasonable timeframe. I encourage the relevant Minister to move towards that timeframe. I would like to see the legislation enacted before we leave here at the end of July for the summer recess. If that was done then, from September onwards, the scenarios outlined by the INTO's LGBT unit would no longer exist. It would mean we could give people the legislative certainty that such discrimination would no longer exist. We have experienced a delay of 12 months with this legislation. I am not happy to stand over such a delay and I will not stand over it. With a commitment by us all, particularly Senator Bacik, myself, the Minister and others, we could push this on and have it enacted by the end of July which is a fair and reasonable time period.