Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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Of course. I thank Dr. Mills. He is certainly not accused of being contemptuous of anybody. However, I do hold to my point that I think he was wrongly contemptuous of the proposition that we might refuse to change laws because of the impact that very change might have in leading to future laws, the effects of which might be undesirable. Dr. Mills spoke eloquently on the subject of conscientious objection. It is something we are going to have to consider. Dr. Mills talked about people lower down in the food chain, so to speak, if I may use that expression. He is right to do so. There are people like secretaries in institutions, people who do not have power within establishments who might well be affected by changes of the law if we are not mindful. One thinks as well, of course, of institutions that are providing care for people. Will they at risk in the future if we create a right of being required in some way or in some circumstances to facilitate the exercise of that right? There may be a difference in the end, therefore, between creating a legal right to something and simply decriminalising it in certain circumstances.