Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

The Independent Senators' motion seeks a report of progress to date and future plans aimed at securing the full compatibility of Irish family law with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, with particular reference to the convention rights of non-marital and one-parent families. I am grateful to them for raising this issue and I propose to give the Government's response to it, as encapsulated in the amendment which has been moved by Senator Jim Walsh on behalf of the Government side. As I said, I am not here to get into combative mode or ask the House to divide unnecessarily.