Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a large, comprehensive and complex Bill. Having listened to the most recent contributions of Deputies Shortall, Boyd Barrett and Mattie McGrath, I would suggest that it boils down to the reality of situations. If we try to create a framework for fairness and responsibility, having recognised the truth and reality of the situation, then we are on the road to respect for the individuals involved. Anybody who comes into existence is an individual. That may sound trite or too obvious but sometimes one has to express the obvious. Everybody who comes into existence has the relationship potential of father, mother, daughter or son. These are the four possibilities and they are extraordinarily valuable and unique to each individual. Respect is what is needed for those relationships.

If one starts timing and stop-watching obsessively to give the appearance of legislative safeguard, one can create a prison rather than a liberation for those individuals. Therefore, I would be inclined to agree with the observations made by Deputies Shortall, Boyd-Barrett, Coppinger and Mattie McGrath but let us not get neurotically tied up with an algebraic approach because it does not work. There is no stop watch or calendar to measure reality; they are convenient reference points for the truth of existence. Therefore, whatever we can do to assure respect for the arrival of children into this world, as sons or daughters to fathers and mothers, should be done. The relationships may, at any given point, be not so good or good; they will change. People have mood swings within a day. It is important not to snooker future human beings, whether they are mothers, fathers, sons or daughters and to give every prospect of respect by what we do. These are some context thoughts to bear in mind before the ink dries on the Bill.

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