Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I will not rehearse the arguments put forward on Second Stage. What is being sought here is further delay by means of referring this matter to an all-party committee. I have been a Member of the Seanad for seven years and I have not seen a simpler amendment to change the Constitution being put before the House. The Bill merely asks that the people allow the Oireachtas to legislate in respect of the children of non-nationals, which is eminently sensible.

If there are people who are opposed to the substantive issue involved, it would be better if they declared their interests and we could have a debate on that issue. There is a great deal of obfuscation taking place in respect of this matter. I refer more to the comments of Senator Tuffy than those of Senator Terry in that regard. What the people are being asked to do is make a small and clear-cut change to the Constitution. The need for this has arisen because of the changes that emanated from the Good Friday Agreement, which changed the constitutional position in respect of certain articles. As a result, people have been able to exploit a loophole which does not exist in other countries. That is the substantive issue. If people want to debate that matter, I have no difficulty doing so. However, people should emerge from cover and state their position rather than continuing to pursue their current peripheral and insignificant line of attack.