Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Tánaiste for his comprehensive reply. I am aware of the legislation to which he referred. I welcome it and look forward to it being brought forward as quickly as possible.

The Tánaiste's forthright reply contrasts starkly with the reaction of the Taoiseach when he was asked about this issue yesterday evening. He made a speech in the House last July which was widely lauded from one end of the country to the other. Epithets such as "brave", "courageous", "forward thinking", etc., filled the airwaves, yet when presented with a concrete example - it is easy to look brave in the abstract - and asked what his position was, he refused to take the same position the Tánaiste has clearly taken this morning. I take it that the position the Tánaiste stated is his personal position and, presumably, that of his party, that it is not a Government position.

See this speech in context