Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I outlined it this evening. That advice indicated in strong terms that the drafting mechanism of the Bill in equating a civil union to the institution of marriage for all purposes was constitutionally flawed. The elapse of time does not change this key factor and I am firmly of the opinion that it would be a delaying step to endeavour to enact a Bill that would be vulnerable to constitutional challenge.

I emphasise that the question before the House is not whether these rights should be accorded to same sex couples, but how to do so. It is an important debate. In discussing these issues, Deputies have at their disposal the work of the Law Reform Commission and the Colley group, which throws into focus the range of issues that must be attended to and cast into definitive legal form.

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