Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

This is a welcome and refreshing debate and I thank the Minister for his contribution. I thank also the Independent group for putting down the motion, which is welcome on this side of the House.

Society is changing, and I welcome that change. I am glad I am living in this age and not that of my mother, which was a much more difficult society for the people at that time. Even in my time I have experienced changes for the better, which I welcome, but I recognise that there are many more changes to be made to make our society more equal, just and caring for all our people.

I want to give some figures that indicate the way Ireland has changed in recent years; Senator Henry may have given some of these figures already. According to the Central Statistics Office, in 2002 there were 77,600 cohabiting couples in Ireland. That figure is up from 31,300 in 1996, an increase of over 40%. That increase is significant and must be recognised. Overall, those couples accounted for 8.4% of all family units in 2002 compared with 3.9% in 1996. The figures also show a 125% rise in the number of same sex couples over the past six years, from 150 to 1,300. Two thirds of those were male couples. We must recognise that in 1996 a huge number of people in gay relationships may have been shy about coming forward and letting that be known. However, it may still be the case today that there are many people in gay relationships afraid to come forward and acknowledge it publicly. The number of people living in non-marital relationships now stands at 155,000 adults, with more than 51,000 children, so we are no longer speaking about a tiny minority of people. It is a substantial number. Article 8.1 of the European Convention on Human Rights states, as the Minister said, that "Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and correspondence". I do not think that anyone here today would argue with that.

The time of politicians and others interfering in people's lives is well and truly over, particularly interfering in people's bedrooms. Some 12 years ago Ireland criminalised gay people and those seeking to use contraception freely. It straitjacketed those in unhappy and even abusive marriages. We live in a new Ireland and, as I said at the outset, I welcome that fact. Fine Gael has contributed in no small part to that creation. We could not argue with Article 8 and instead see it as not going far enough, as it is loaded with caveats, including the need to protect morals. That is a loaded phrase if ever there was one.

Fine Gael sees no problem with making substantial improvements and developments in this area, in the same way as the Government seems to. We have developed several policies designed to protect everyone in the State, not least vulnerable children who may be living in families outside what some people believe is the traditional norm, but are in fact no less loving or protective than any family that came before them. It is worth noting that this debate comes against the backdrop of cuts in social welfare that hurt every family, whether married, unmarried, gay or straight. The Government has been slow in debating this issue and introducing the necessary changes. I welcome what the Minister said today and look forward to any changes that he brings about.

In the coming weeks, Fine Gael will aim to reignite the debate on civil partnerships that has been bubbling away underneath for some time. We have drawn up and agreed policies that will grant gay couples, and heterosexual couples who do not wish to marry, full equality before the law in the areas of tax, inheritance, next of kin, succession, workplace entitlements and others. Judging from those who have spoken here today, including the Minister, we are in agreement on that area. We will publish our policy on that over the next few weeks.

Partnership rights are the State's way of recognising that the world and the country have changed. While we still strongly support the institution of marriage, we are mature enough as a society to know that we must offer those who do not, cannot or choose not to marry the options that they deserve. Respect for marriage and relationships that fall outside marriage are not mutually exclusive. The Government should remember that when deciding to respect this House by providing it with the legislation that we believe is necessary in this area.