Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I will just finish by saying that this cannot go through as it currently stands because it is discriminatory. I ask the Minister to look at it again. I believe it will be legally challenged. When we bring forward Bills, the Government often says that they will be legally challenged because they are unconstitutional. This Bill goes against the judgment that brought it about in the first place. It is incomprehensible.

I will also say that somebody can be separated or divorced but maintain a good relationship with the other person. The children can be looked after by both parents financially, emotionally and in every other way. That will be completely pulled apart by the death of one of those parents, even if they are separated, and the Minister is proposing to discriminate against them. I do not understand how he thinks this is in any way justified.

See this speech in context