Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Minister on his introduction of this Bill to amend the Constitution to recognise marriage equality. It has already been said that equality is a core principle of a true republic, as is the equality of all citizens under the law, as opposed to the retention of the status quoin which some are more equal than others, which is simply unacceptable. This Bill and the vote in the referendum on 22 May will be about recognising the love of two people, whether they be gay or straight, as equal in the eyes of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Constitution and the people of this State.

For many years, knowing that this Bill would eventually come before the House, I went on my own journey. As the previous speaker said, there are a number of people in Irish society who are concerned about the potential of the marriage equality Bill and who fear that the coming referendum will in some way affect their own marriage, but this is unfounded. It is far more simple than that. The basis on which this State was founded, by which I refer to the Proclamation, a section of which the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, read a short while ago, is an affirmation of what a true republic is, influenced as it was by the French Revolution.

Our Constitution is 77 years old and has acquired a number of modernising amendments over the past few years. This is another affirmation of the rights, responsibilities and opportunities that the Constitution should reflect for society and its people. Our laws must be reflective of 21st-century Irish society, not the society of 1937. We must support the betterment of society for all and recognise that it is no longer acceptable to actively discriminate against a person based on his or her sexuality. It is not acceptable for us to discriminate against a gay or lesbian couple who happen to be married or in a civil partnership, or in another situation which we will discuss in the House in the near future in the child and family relationships Bill - that is, who have a desire to adopt. I do not know for how many decades we have allowed individuals or married couples to adopt, but we have actively discriminated against those in civil partnerships. That is unacceptable, and I am happy to see that being addressed as part of a suite of legislation which the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is introducing.

I will close by referring again to the journey I myself went on a couple of years ago in deciding in what way I would greet the marriage equality referendum. It boiled down to a simple matter, to which Deputy John Halligan referred a little earlier. When one enters the gates of Leinster House or this Chamber, one is not a Catholic Deputy - I am a Deputy who happens to be a Catholic. I also represent Protestants, Jews, Muslims and people of no faith. I have to make sure I represent all my constituents in the Bills I choose to support in this House.

I need to ensure that I represent all my constituents and not only those who adhere to my particular beliefs. That is what a true republic is about, namely, rights, liberty, happiness and the prosperity of the whole nation and all of its parts.

I believe civic groups must lead this campaign. It is not the preserve of the Houses of the Oireachtas or the political parties within them to run this campaign. It is far more important than that. I agree entirely with the views of Deputy Calleary that this not a sure thing. As Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, we need to get out in society and support civic groups who are mounting a campaign to ensure that this referendum is passed on 22 May.

See this speech in context