Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I add my thanks to the Minister, her Department, her officials, the Opposition spokespersons and to everyone who took part in the debate. I am sorry that I was only able to attend a limited amount of it. The Bill is the full expression of how realities have changed in our country and among our people. It is indicative of the wider family that is Ireland with all the people who have come from different countries with their traditions and what they have to offer.

We are trying to catch up and make a place that is safer and more secure for all of us to live, whether we are on a day-to-day basis fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. In existential terms that is what we are and that is what makes us special as human beings. That is why we have all the rules, arrangements and frameworks for safe conduct of our lives and our community etc. That we can do that in a fair, just and respectful way is indicative of the fact that we are all making progress.

I offer my thanks to all involved and to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

See this speech in context