Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As I made clear in the letter I sent in the early summer, I am very keen to hear from the committee. My intention is to maintain my relationship with this committee into the future. The Government, the Oireachtas and expert parties and advisers have grappled with this issue for more than 25 years. Everyone agrees it is timely and appropriate to make the change. That was said 25 years ago, but we have not done it. I think the reason for not doing it is a sound one. We have not done it because the matter of replacement presents a great legal challenge. Having considered all the options before us, having examined the findings of the Constitution Review Group, the Constitutional Convention and all-party Oireachtas committees of the past and having regard to the legal advice that has been received, and bearing in mind that this is a gender equality issue only, we believe the most appropriate and safest way forward is to ask the people to delete the relevant section of the Constitution. That is not in any way to downplay the importance of the other very valid points that have been raised by Deputies.