Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I note the Minister’s voice has been deteriorating as the day has gone on. I am sure she will be glad to have this Bill passed shortly. While issues have been raised about strengthening the detail of the legislation, every side of the House is agreed in principle with it, a unique situation.

It shows that we have all kept our focus and that focus has been on the rights of children. This is very much a starting point and if there is a job for the Opposition to do, it is to hold the Government to account. This is what we will do should the referendum be passed in terms of ensuring that the practical delivery of the referendum is played out in the way that we all intend it to be. There will be better stories told by children in future should this be the case.

It will be interesting to see how the media handles the referendum. Often the issues that tend to get reams of coverage - something we would like in this case - are those of dissent rather than points of unity. Sometimes there is a desire not among people in this House but among the general public to see things that people can agree on. It would be nice to see this reflected in how the referendum is played out up to 10 November, and there is work for the media to do in this regard. There is also work for those of us in the House with regard to any influence we can bring. Door knocking, speaking at public meetings and so on will all play a part. I thank the Minister for her open-door policy. It is a lesson to others in how to get to this point. I also thank her officials, with whom I have had some engagement in recent months. I hope the constitutional amendment will be passed when it is put to the people on 10 November.

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