Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Last May 82% of people voted in favour of changing the timeframe for those applying for a divorce in this country. It is incredible to think that 23 years ago in 1996 the difference between "Yes" and "No" was 9,000 votes. It was incredible. It was a very different Ireland. I am probably showing my age, but I remember campaigning for the "Yes" side. It was a very different Ireland. It was a pivotal moment for those who were in abusive relationships. They had a way out. The people of Ireland spoke and said that people should have a choice.

That change did something else which was more fundamental and its legacy survives to this day. It challenged the Catholic moral conservatism that is in this country. Of course, a person can be Catholic or Christian and so forth, but the straitjacket of that conservatism was finally lifted. That day started a process that challenged the church and the conservatism that we lived under during that period. It changed fundamentally.

I welcome the move to reduce the waiting time from five years to two years but I will speak contrary to that. My amendment would go further and stipulate a six-month period. The reason is that I believe people can make a decision. It is a difficult decision for people when they are in a relationship and it breaks down. It can be complicated. It is not because I believe people should get out of a marriage on a whim - far from it - but as consenting adults I believe they should have the legal right to separate under this procedure. It should not be up to the church, the State or this House to dictate or impose restrictions on a legal divorce involving two consenting adults. That is why I will be pushing my amendment today.

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