Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much look forward to reading the report over the recess and will do that. I was grateful for the opportunity to speak before the committee some weeks ago. I recognise Deputy Bacik's work as Chairperson, and all the members of the committee for the work they did. Politicians and parliamentarians often do not get credit for the kind of work that gets done in committees but it is often the work that is most valuable, rather than what happens here in the Chamber. It was in my previous role that the decision was made to establish a citizens' assembly on gender. That was decided weeks after the referendum to repeal the eighth amendment, as the next important step in advancing equality between men and women. It has taken quite some time to get to this point, to have the assembly and have the Oireachtas committee do its work and make its report.

I can certainly give the Deputy a commitment that responding to the report will be on the agenda of the Government in 2023. We will respond to the recommendations in a structured way and in early course. I am in favour of constitutional change to provide a modern definition of family in our Constitution and to remove gendered language. It is extremely useful to have this report because referendums are easy to lose and often hard to win. The fact that we have cross-party wording is very helpful in that regard. I cannot make a commitment today on a referendum next year. It is something that will have to be discussed with the new Cabinet and the new Attorney General. However, I can give the commitment that this is work I really want to make progress on and follow through on. While I do not agree with every recommendation, the citizens' assembly did a great body of work that points to the way forward. The committee built on that and we want to make sue we move this agenda forward next year. I will certainly commit to a structured and meaningful response to all the recommendations in early course.

See this speech in context