Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend Deputy Madigan on bringing forward her Bill. This committee was very anxious to facilitate its earliest address and the Deputy's colleagues will be able to confirm that it is exactly what we have done. I do not sense a difference in view in terms of the objective she has set out, including the pathway and methodology. I would personally be sympathetic to divorce being dealt with in legislation rather than in the Constitution. It is a valid question. There was a reference that this was raising the bar, making the subject separate and apart, and this must be explored a little bit. I favour the reduction in the period from four to two years but at the same time I would not like to see greater difficulty being put in place. That is something for members to tease out in the period from here to Report Stage. As it stands, I welcome and support the passage of the Deputy's Bill through Committee Stage and I wish it fair wind for the rest of its journey.

Amendment No. 4 refers to the Schedule but it cannot be moved. The amendment was from Deputies Coppinger, Barry and Paul Murphy. If she could not remain, another member of the grouping would have to make the proposition but they are not represented on the committee. She will be able to raise that on Report Stage and pursue it in the normal course. I note the Schedule is opposed by Deputies Daly and Wallace. We have discussed the grouping and the Deputies will be able to record that opposition.