Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the broad political support, as outlined by previous speakers, the Minister and debates in the other House, for the inclusion of the Bill on the statute books. It is timely and welcome. It could be argued that it should have happened some time ago. However, unfortunately it takes some time to bring some elements of society with us. It means that we have to coherently put forward the views necessary to bring more people with us.

By conferring fundamental rights on a person or couple or group of people we do not undermine the rights and entitlements of other individuals or groups of people. We have to get away from the idea that if we confer a right on a person by extension somebody else will suffer or have his or her entitlements and rights undermined. In this case, it could not be further from the truth. The Bill is welcome in the context of changes to the tax codes to assist cohabitating couples and those in civil partnerships and to provide them with equal treatment and rights.

I remember the debate in 1993 in the Seanad on the decriminalisation of homosexuality. It was quite contentious in certain quarters at the time and there was a great deal of opposition to it. I complement previous Ministers who piloted the legislation through the Dáil and Seanad. It was a fractious debate at times, in particular in political parties, but also on the floor of the Dáil and Seanad.

We have moved a long way since then. We are now a pluralist Christian society which reaches out to every citizen regardless of creed, colour or sexual orientation. That is something I, as an Irish person, am proud to say. There was some resistance to moving such a long distance from where we began. We are a more mature and understanding society which wants to confer equal rights on all our citizens, and that is something the Bill does.

The complexities of the tax code are quite amazing and only understood by a number of accountants. The Bills digest provides a summary of it. I refer to the broader terms of what we as a country and society can benefit from in terms of making sure that cohabitating couples and those in civil partnerships have the same entitlements and rights as married and unmarried couples. The principle that has been established is very positive. Speakers referred to Ireland being an outward-looking society, which was the case in recent times. We have come a long way in developing a pluralist Christian society which is outward-looking and can tolerate different religious and political traditions. This happened in the context of the Good Friday Agreement. It evolved and maturity was required in the Republic and in the North to understand that different traditions and viewpoints can be accommodated in harmony and that does not mean undermining the rights of another tradition. That principle allowed people of different persuasions to move a step further. Legislation such as this Bill also confers equal rights on citizens.

This sends out a very positive signal internationally that Ireland is a tolerant, understanding and caring society which wants to cherish all its children and people equally and fairly. That has broader implications because people look to tolerant societies to work, live and rear families in. It is something from which we can benefit, in terms of bringing in people who have expertise and competencies and who may want to invest in the country, in terms of the provision of education, medicine and financial services. In every facet of industry and the services sector, people will then see Ireland as a place where they can live and enjoy the rights conferred on them. That in itself is a welcome aspect of this legislation.

The information provided by GLEN shows that quite a sizeable number of people have, until recently, been discriminated against by the Republic's laws or the lack of measures such as the Bill now before us. This Bill is not something to try and show that we are liberal, it is a momentous step to ensure that groups and individuals have full entitlements conferred upon them by right.

Deputy Buttimer referred to the role of churches in society and their attitudes towards various minority groups. In some cases those attitudes have been negative, but in others they have been positive. Very often, religious groups interact with immigrant communities. The churches also provide support and services for vulnerable people who may feel alienated from mainstream society. While we may talk about being a pluralist Christian society, it is equally important to acknowledge that much work is being, and has been, done by voluntary organisations as well as Christian and other religious groups. On a daily basis, they interact with and assist vulnerable people who may feel they are not receiving their rights and entitlements.

In the context of discussing historical issues, we should acknowledge that many positives things have happened also. Nonetheless, that does not obviate the need to ensure that proper investigating and reporting systems are in place when an institution is involved in abuse of any form. It must not be covered up and the State must have the full facts in order to deal with it. The law must be brought to bear on those who refuse to co-operate or assist with such investigations. Meanwhile, the State must investigate such matters and protect all its citizens. For many years, there have been concerns in that area with regard to the Catholic Church and the Catholic hierarchy. There have been many investigations into appalling cases of institutionalised abuse of our youth and other vulnerable people.

If we are to give people full rights and entitlements, the State must also do its utmost to protect citizens, particularly those who are vulnerable and alienated. In recent years, the State has acknowledged as much through Government apologies and, more importantly, via practical investigations and criminal prosecutions where necessary. For all those reasons, while discussing the church's positive and negative roles, we must bring balance to this debate.

GLEN has welcomed this Bill. Along with other organisations, it has been campaigning for a long time to have such a measure on the Statute Book. It was meant to be part of the main Finance Bill last year, but the general election got in the way. One could say the election got in the way of many things.

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