Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

Deputy Flanagan made a narrow point that somehow gay couples would want to use church halls or something like that. I do not think that gay couples would want to do that. I do not think they want to go to places where there is antipathy towards them, if that is public and manifest. It is unfortunate that such antipathy would exist, but I think people want to have these civil ceremonies in a place full of joy that is appropriate to the ceremony they are celebrating.

People who are fundamentally opposed to the principles of civil partnerships of same sex couples have thrown red herrings into this argument, and we have dealt with those. However, I fully accept Deputy Crawford's bona fides on this. There are people, many of them lobbyists and many of them outside the House over the last few days, whose views are fundamentalist but to which they are entitled. I do not believe their views reflect the overwhelming view of modern Ireland and the people of this State right now.

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