Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the clarification provided. I presume all the Deputies who attacked and ridiculed us last night and tried to make out that we were misleading in what we were doing will retract the scurrilous allegations they made. I presume they have done that or will do that.

I welcome Deputy Tóibín's contribution in which he highlighted the filibustering of Deputies on the other side who have spoken 50,000 words compared with 45,000 words spoken by those of us on this side. That finally nails the claims that have been going around here for the last couple of days. People, including the Taoiseach, have made accusations against us. This is a worthwhile amendment which is being brought forward for the most sincere of reasons. Deputy Michael Collins highlighted this evening the activities that are allowable and not allowable to a person under 16. All we are trying to do here is protect young people and involve their parents at a time when they most need them.

It is completely scurrilous for people to be trying to give the impression that a majority of parents or grandparents would be mistreating these children. Of course there is a bad egg in every segment of society. I think it is fundamentally wrong if the primary reason for legislating in a certain way is an assumption that the parent or grandparent is the abuser of a child.

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