Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

It is important that all politicians are united in a desire to treat all our citizens equally.

We are privileged to walk into this Chamber and, as we do, we pass the Proclamation of the Irish Republic which states in clear, bold language:

The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and all of its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally.

These are not light words and nor were they written in a hurry, rather they were written with intent. Today we are putting those words into practical reality and this is to be welcomed.

In a modern interpretation, that alien government referred to in the Proclamation could be taken as referring to decisions and actions of this State and to the church and other bodies which have inhibited religious and civil liberty, failed to ensure equal rights and neglected to cherish all the children of the nation equally. This Bill is a welcome step to ensuring we continue our slow progression towards the equality that was eloquently set out in the Proclamation of Independence 95 years ago. Today we commence the legislative process to give real and practical effect to the newly introduced civil partnerships. We commence the process to allow registered same sex couples the same tax treatment as married couples. This is another step along the road towards equality.

Last year when a Member of the Seanad I raised the issue of the church in society. For many years the church has dominated church-State relationships and on many occasions the State deferred to the church, not only on social and moral questions but also on many other issues, including educational issues. We have seen the legacy of this abdication of responsibility by the State, and society is trying to rectify some of the damage caused. However, not all aspects of the involvement of religion in Irish society have had a negative impact. The close-knit social fabric which we enjoy is often founded and based on the idea of the parish. Our health system has developed from the initial ground-breaking efforts of religious orders. Much of our education system was founded by the religious. There has been much good work. In recent years, society has led both church and State on progressive social issues. The policies and structures of both church and State have lagged behind the realities of life for many people. Today, the State is saying it is willing to play catch-up.

I echo the comments made recently by Bishop Paul Colton the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, when speaking at the Church of Ireland diocesan synod. He was addressing the alienation and marginalisation of gay people from their church. He said that clergy regularly visited the homes of parishioners, both gay and straight, during their parochial rounds and he hoped that pastoral support was being offered by way of prayer and blessing. He asked the question as to what now is to be the response of the church, pastorally and liturgically, in this new civil partnership scenario. This question should not be confined to the diocesan synod but rather needs to be considered by all churches, all religious groups and every sector of society. True Christianity should neither alienate nor marginalise people who are gay. Like the rest of society, gay people also share the same spiritual and religious beliefs. They should not have to suffer pain by the very same Christian community which espouses that the reign of God will be a kingdom of love, peace, and justice.

Unfortunately, we have seen in recent years the many failures of this State to cherish all its children equally. Today we are ensuring another group of children will begin to receive equal treatment. For the purposes of tax, a child of civil partners will be treated in the same way as a child of a married couple. We are recognising the realities of family life for many children and those children brought up within caring and committed relationships by two caring and committed parents will be treated in the same way regardless of whether their parents are a married couple or civil partners. That is important. Children of State recognised unions will receive the same treatment for inheritance tax, gift tax and stamp duty. Today the State is recognising that parenting is not just done by married couples, single people or widowed parents, it is also done by same-sex couples. We are saying to those that choose to become civil partners and raise children within their relationships that society understands, values and appreciates their parental commitment.

Equality for children of parents in a civil partnership should not be limited to equal treatment for tax purposes. The State must examine the options available to it to go even further towards cherishing these children equally. It should examine the available mechanisms for formally recognising the parental role of a non-biological parent. As Deputy Murphy said regarding the previous census, we have seen that the number of same sex or cohabiting couples in the 2006 census increased from 1,200 to 2,090. I am sure the 2011 census will show a similar increase. It is open to all of the couples concerned to avail of the changes we are debating here today. GLEN has estimated that approximately 1,000 couples will avail of civil partnerships within the first year. That unveiling of joy, happiness, support and solidarity is what we bring to the House.

I refer to the imagery of the front page of The Irish Times on Monday of an 18-year-old girl or young man who was beaten up. Our horror and shock would be rightly placed if such a person was heterosexual. In our society today there is still a homophobic attitude that needs to be changed. Last week a young man visited my office. He was chased from an establishment in a certain part of the country. He was caught and beaten up because he was in a gay pub and was gay. That is wrong and sends the wrong signal. I compliment Educate Together, INTO and GLEN for their primary school teacher course on homophobic bullying which will take place in July this year.

We must live in a society where we are all free and equal and will be cherished by all organs of society. There can be no place for ambiguity or intolerance. The achievement of bringing this Bill to the House has taken many years of campaigning by the brave men and women of GLEN who are in the Visitors' Gallery, previous and current Governments, politicians and advocacy groups. Groups and individuals have led society. They have educated it to the point that in this House last year, as Deputy Calleary said, there was unanimity. A minority voted against it in the Seanad.

Our attitudes, I hope, have changed. The transformation in our outlook and attitude must be met, as Deputy Doherty said, not just with political rhetoric but with action. The action is contained in the Bill and the Minister's statement today which allows for retrospection. We must spare a thought for the many people today who are not here and would be proud that our Legislature joined together in passing the Bill.

We can never allow discrimination to continue in our society and the purpose of theBill is to provide the necessary change, as the Minister said, to the tax legislation. It is much more than that. It is about the gnáth duine, the ordinary person. We live in a new Ireland where the ignominious stigma of being gay is being removed today.

It is imperative that we continue the advancement and together portray an Ireland which is ambitious, outward looking and, as Deputy Calleary said, will benefit internationally from the passing of the Bill, in the context of foreign direct investment which will make it easier for companies relocate here and attract people to the country. The Oireachtas has sent a strong signal that we are becoming a forward-looking diverse society. I commend the Bill to the House.

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