Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

There is a difference between proposing while in opposition and enacting while in government. We must enact legislation that stands up to scrutiny, respects international best practice and can stand up in the courts. We must ensure that the vulnerable people in relationships are protected and that the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. We must ensure that taxation, social welfare schemes and pensions are covered. We must deal with succession, shared homes and power of attorney when partners are ill. All this must come into the Bill. It is crucial that the first steps in that Bill be correct. I am not convinced the Labour Party Bill goes down the right road on a comprehensive corpus of legislation.

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