Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Rabbitte has accused me of slithering and sliding, of stating that I will be out of the country and of indicating that we will look into the matter next week. I did not say any of those things. I stated that for the limited time I will be out of the country, those who are working with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Attorney General will try to complete this Bill. It is their view and the view of people outside the issue that it would be very unwise to run with just any old proposal. We must work it out carefully and get the two main points right to ensure that the laws are not discriminatory on grounds of gender, which is what the Supreme Court said, and that the defences required by the Supreme Court decision are dealt with.

Many other people looked at this legislation over the past 15 years, deciding in many reviews, five Acts, a discussion paper and many submissions that the issue need not be dealt with. Experts sending in submissions from the various arms of the law decided this. The Supreme Court has now said that we have to deal with it. To run off a Bill and not check it comprehensively would be a mistake.

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