Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to welcome my good friend, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Katherine Zappone, to the House and indicate at the outset that, having listened to the speech given by the Minister, Deputy Harris, every word of it is something with which I agree and every line of it is something of which the public should be aware. I will come back to that.

I want to make a second point. This referendum is by no means a foregone conclusion as to its passage. It is to the middle ground of Ireland who, like myself, favour repeal that we should address ourselves in the coming weeks. Therefore, I echo what other speakers have said about the need to have a reasoned, calm and persuasive debate and to roll up our sleeves to achieve that. This is not like the situation which arose in the marriage equality referendum. This is quite different. The extent and depth of opposition and the issues involved are radically different. There are some similarities, but there are significant differences. It will not go through on the nod and it requires to be delivered politically in a rational, calm and decent way which brings middle Ireland with the proposal.

In that context, I want to say one thing. Words were spoken here about the Catholic Church in the 1960s, the abuses of children and the like. We cannot make the Catholic Church the enemy in this process. Many good people have devoted their lives to the Catholic Church and should not be forgotten.