Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, effectively moved the equality agenda forward by presenting to the House the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000 which put Ireland to the forefront in protecting individuals, including gay people, from discrimination.

We have delivered and will do so again. It is because of this track record that I support the Government amendment, which I do on trust. I trust, having read the statements made by the Government, that we will honour our commitment to bring forward good legislation to guarantee equality for same-sex couples at the earliest possible moment.

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