Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

My point is not that six of the proposals are uncontentious and two are contentious. Rather, my point is that they are distinctly different. It is claimed that some relate to the rights of children, with the others concerning the protection of children. The Joint Committee on Child Protection was referred to by the Taoiseach.

I am not even asserting that two issues are contentious as I have not concluded so for myself. These issues have not been debated. There has been no national discussion on them.

Given that the genesis the situation was last May and that the time that has passed is not the fault of this side of the House, does the Taoiseach see merit in proceeding with the two amendments on the zone of protection for children and the issue of soft information immediately or contemporaneously with the general election so that both can be put to the people as quickly as possible?

I do not claim to speak for all parties in the House, but they are of a like mind, as demonstrated at the joint committee. We could proceed on that basis and provide adequate time for all those who want to discuss complex and complicated issues relating to the family and the balance of rights between children and the family. We should be more concerned about getting this right than doing it in a hurry. Is there not merit in there being two separate questions?

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