David Norris (Independent)

Almost five minutes? Again, I was right. It is so unnerving. I thank the Acting Chairman for that reminder.

People are reluctant to go to court, particularly in a situation where sexual orientation is involved, even though we have changed the law and so on. Perhaps because I have got older and more used to this, I am surprised that many young people would hesitate going into open court in the District Court. On this occasion I will make a criticism which may be 20 or 30 years out of date. People have a long memory of the way they were treated in the District Court. I recall the jibes and insults routinely showered on gay people in the Dublin District Court. They do not have a happy memory of the place and will not be happy to go there. Why do we use the term "learned judge"? Are there two categories, learned judges and those less learned? I understand a learned judge expressed the view that this was a way around the Equality Authority and would weaken it. This was quoted on radio. I see the Minister shaking his head; obviously, he does not believe this. I doubt that he wants to weaken the Equality Authority but these are people involved with the law and we need to listen to them.