Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I support the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, in this regard. I want to take this opportunity to welcome the final stages of the passage of this legislation, which represents an important milestone on the road towards full equality. I may differ from the Minister when it comes to the final destination on that road. My view and that of my party is that there should be no distinction between genders with regard to marriage. The final destination for me and for my party involves consenting adults having full and equal marriage rights, regardless of sexual orientation.

I know that many people, particularly in the two larger parties in this Chamber, do not wish to see that. The Bill before the House is an important milestone. I say to those who are concerned about it, some of whom have expressed their concerns to me, that this is a question of civil rights. It will give recognition to people who have been denied recognition for many years. It is about more than civil partnership - it is also about giving rights to very vulnerable people in cohabiting relationships. The CSO acknowledges that there are thousands of gay and lesbian couples in Ireland. They deserve recognition by the State. In addition, there are over 100,000 cohabiting couples of opposite genders. I understand that there are approximately 75,000 children of such relationships in Ireland.

This legislation gives recognition to such families and relationships as well. Although this Bill does not go as far as I or my party would like, it represents very important progress on a journey that will probably take many years to reach its final destination. Deputies around the Chamber may disagree about what that final destination should be, but almost everyone will agree that this measure marks progress as we move along the road towards recognising, cherishing and protecting the vulnerable in Irish society.

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