Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

I accept Deputy Howlin's point that it is unlawful to discriminate against anybody, but I see some discrimination in the Bill and it is my duty as an elected representative to iron out what I see as discrimination and to be satisfied that no discrimination will exist in the Bill if it is passed in its present form. That is my duty as a public representative.

I understand what is in the Bill. I am still concerned about the two years versus the four years and I am not happy with the Minister's reply that one can seek court redress after two years. If the two years and four to five years clauses remain in the Bill, then in my opinion that would be an incentive to people getting married. In the circumstances where a couple have cohabited for the qualifying period, the financially dependent party may, with the prospect of marriage, be left in an economically less advantageous position. How is that not discrimination against married couples if unmarried couples cohabiting together with children can have redress after two years while married couples who have been living apart cannot have redress for four to five years? If the Minister can satisfy me on that, I might not have any more to contribute to this debate.

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