Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

Déarfaidh mé arís é i mBéarla níos déanaí. Tabharfaimid príomhacht don Ghaeilge i gcónaí. Tá sé níos tábhachtaí má tá sé ráite i nGaeilge. Molaim an Rialtas fá choinne an Bille seo a thabhairt chun tosaigh chomh scioptha. Mar is eol don Aire, bhí amhras orm nuair nach raibh na sonraí atá sa Bhille seo mar pháirt don mBille Airgeadais (Uimh. 2) 2011. Shíl mé go raibh moill á chur ar an mBille seo, ach ní mar sin a tharla. Caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuilimid uilig thar a bheith sásta go bhfuil an Bille os comhair na Dála inniu. Tá súil agam go bhfaighfidh sé tacaíocht traspháirtí.

Leathnaíonn an reachtaíocht na cearta atá bainte amach ag an ngrúpa seo. Cuireann sé i bhfeidhm rudaí teicniúla faoi cháin a leanann an tAcht um Páirtnéireacht Shibhialta agus um Chearta agus Oibleagáidí Áirithe de chuid Comhchónaitheoirí 2010. Ghlac mé páirt i ndíospóireacht breá bríomhar ar an reachtaíocht sin sa Seanad an bhliain seo caite. Bhí an Bille á phlé againn ar feadh cúpla lá. Nuair a tháinig dhá bhean go dtí mo oifig i nGaoth Dobhair roinnt seachtainí ina dhiadh sin, chuir sé áthas agus gliondar chroí orm a chloisint go rabhadar taréis aitheantas a fháil faoin reachtaíocht sin cúpla seachtain roimhe. Bhí an páirtnéireacht eatarthu cláraithe acu. An cheist a bhí á phlé acu ná go raibh bean amháin, nárbh as Éirinn di, ag iarraidh dul tríd an naturalisation process. Bhí iarratas curtha isteach aici le fada fá choinne é sin a chur i bhfeidhm, ach tarraingíodh siar an t-iarratas agus bhí uirthi é a dhéanamh arís.

Mar an cainteoir deireanach, cuirim fáilte roimh an méid atá ráite ag an Aire, an Teachta Shatter, go bhfuil sé chun leasuithe a thabhairt chun tosaigh ionas go dtabharfar aitheantas faoi leith sa naturalisation process dóibh siúd a bhfuil civil partnership acu. Beidh sé sin mar bhuntáiste ní hamháin don dhá bhean a bhí istigh liom ach do go leor daoine eile freisin. Níl i gceist ach síneadh ar na cearta atá ar fáil do gach éinne eile.

Sinn Féin has long advocated full legislative equality for lesbians and gay men. Although we believed the civil partnership Bill did not go far enough, we were pleased to support it as an important step on the road to equality, irrespective of one's sexual orientation. Although not amounting to full equality, civil partnership legislation provides for important rights, including inheritance, adoption, visitation and residency rights. Sinn Féin also recognises that some couples, including heterosexual and same sex couples, have no wish to marry and seek only civil partnership status.

During the closing stages of the debate in the Seanad last July I stated it was an emotional day for those who had campaigned long and hard and that it was a great day on which to rejoice. There was an overwhelming public response to the first gay civil partnership ceremonies that took place this year. This made me realise the great value of being a legislator. It was one of those moments when one realises the power vested in the Oireachtas which, if used correctly, can materially improve the quality of people's lives. Today we are dealing with the outstanding issues arising from the civil partnership Act.

The Finance (No. 3) Bill seeks to remove anomalies from the tax code in order to ensure civil partners are treated in the same manner as married opposite sex couples. I commend the Government for bringing forward the Bill quickly. The Minister can be assured of Sinn Féin's full support in the matter. Enacting the Bill is vitally important both for those couples who have become civil partners and for those considering that course of action. It provides them with legal certainty and security which, given the current economic climate, is more important than ever.

The Bill is also important in another respect in that it ensures the children of civil partners will be treated the same for tax purposes as children of married opposite sex couples. The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network has singled this out as being especially important, providing financial protections for the "growing numbers of children being parented by same-sex couples". I hope the Bill will have the unanimous support of both Houses of the Oireachtas in order to send a clear signal to all that Dáil Éireann is serious about equality and treating all citizens and residents of the State with the dignity they deserve.

The passing of the Bill will be another important step in a broader discussion taking place in our society, the aim of which is to secure equal recognition of same sex parents and families. Sinn Féin fully supports the right of same sex couples to marry and form a family, including by adoption. Ours was the first party to seek to enshrine this right in legislation when Deputy Seán Crowe tabled an amendment to the Civil Registration Bill 2003 to provide for equal recognition of same sex marriage. There must be further action to remove all the barriers and inequalities that prevent same sex couples from enjoying the same rights as opposite sex partners.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party gave a clear commitment in the programme for Government to explore the possibility of constitutional reform to enable same sex marriage. I urge the Government to press ahead with this commitment in order that full equality in this matter will be afforded to all citizens and residents of the State. The programme for Government states:

Equality is at the heart of what it means to be a citizen in our democracy. This Government believes that everyone has the right to be free from discrimination and that we all benefit from living in a more equal society.

I agree wholeheartedly with these sentiments. However, the test of any Government's commitment to equality is not in its political rhetoric but its legislative and policy action. The passage of this Bill is a good first step. However, there is much more work to be done and I look forward to seeing the Government further advance the rights of lesbian and gay individuals, couples and families. If it does so, it will have Sinn Féin's full and enthusiastic support.

This is a good day for equality in Ireland and I hope there are many more such days to come. On 21 January 1921, as Dáil Éireann adopted its democratic programme, the assembled Deputies stated:

We declare that we desire our country to be ruled in accordance with the principles of Liberty, Equality, and Justice for all, which alone can secure permanence of Government in the willing adhesion of the people.

Ninety years later this aspiration remains as valid as it was in the heady days of the birth of the State. Progress has been made, but we do not yet live in a country ruled fully in accordance with the principles of liberty, equality and justice for all. Until we do, this House will not have the support of all the people of the nation. I support the Bill and urge all Members of the House to do likewise. I commend the Government for brining it forward in a timely manner.

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