Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The Minister's position is deceptive because it is pretending to make a change without making any. Incidentally, I agree that it is wrong to reduce the age to seven years. If the Minister and her Government colleagues are serious, surely the only honourable and sincere approach would be to withdraw the Bill or, at least, delete section 4 which gives rise to this provision. It is not acceptable for the Government to come before the House with a Bill on which it has not reached clear agreement.

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