Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and welcome the Minister and her staff. Last night I participated in a debate on the referendum on radio and it struck me that the main thrust of the argument of the opponents of the referendum was that we should not trust the State. In that context, does the Minister agree that the key point for us to get across is that the referendum is designed to ensure vulnerable children are brought up in a family situation? When that issue is raised, it is very important for all of us who favour the passing of this referendum to keep making that point because all those who are opposed to the provision have to do is raise enough doubts in peoples' minds. We must get across the message that the point of the referendum is to ensure vulnerable children will be brought up in a family situation, even if it is not their natural family situation.

I have checked out the legal situation regarding the McKenna judgment and, in that context, it is very important both sides of the argument get fair play and are allowed to explain their position clearly. However, there is no obligation to have a 50-50 situation in any debate, and I appeal to the media to take that point on board. Having said that, genuine concerns that people may have must be addressed.