David Norris (Independent)

I would like to refer to the Order Paper and the fact that the last item among the papers laid before the House is the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution's Tenth Progress Report: The Family. The Order Paper also lists my Bill, namely, the Civil Partnership Bill 2004 which deals with one of the issues in this regard. I propose substituting an amended Bill in light of the debate we had on it.

I would like the House to take up this matter and run with it. I have lost all confidence in the Government's commitment to developments in this area. A farcical situation is developing in that gay people in Paisley's Belfast have more civil and human rights than gay people in Bertie's Dublin. If Sean O'Casey was around, the Taoiseach would be described as a prognosticator. I met the Taoiseach 18 months ago. Following that meeting, I thought we were on the way but he kicked the issue into the Oireachtas committee dealing with the family. Now we have its report, as well as the Law Reform Commission reports on this issue, but what is the response? We have a detailed examination and a clear recommendation to proceed along the lines my Bill has proposed, yet the Government is considering another commission, committee or think-tank to examine the situation. It is putting the matter on the long finger. We are being disgraced in Europe as one of the last states to deal with this issue. Catholic Spain has full gay marriage. I will not list the other states. Let us please get on with the job. I have done the work so let the Government live up to what its committee has recommended.

The Leader has been very positive, courageous and creative on the issue of the war in Iraq and the difficult subject of CIA renditions. Can she give us any further information on developments in this area and when the promised committee will be set up? The Marty committee has issued a worrying report. Senator Marty, the Swiss Senator chairing the committee, has clearly determined that there are more than 100 of these rendition flights over Europe and suggests that many European governments are aware of them but are turning a blind eye. Before Christmas our Human Rights Commission called on the State to inspect these flights. It is important that we examine this problem.

Senator O'Toole mentioned the troubled question of privilege and suggested that the only way to ensure accurate and safe information is to put it on the record of the House. I have the greatest respect for the staff of the Debates Office. They do an exceptionally good job, are very courteous, professional and helpful. They do, however, sometimes massage points a little, particularly when people like me attempt to speak Irish, which they render grammatical. While this is completely acceptable we need to consider the situation and give direction.