Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

This is an example of a situation. Pension rights could not be passed on to the surviving partner.

On 25 June 2003, Fine Gael published its policy paper on civil partnership. Fianna Fáil has made a number of promises. It is five years since the Fine Gael policy paper was published and Fianna Fáil has not yet introduced legislation. Every time the issue is raised, we are told: "Not today but tomorrow." I hope the commitment given tonight to publish the heads of the Bill by the end of March will be met.

Our amendment to this motion expresses Fine Gael's commitment to civil partnership legislation to deal with the significant inequalities and discriminatory practices currently in place with respect to same-sex couples. Unfortunately, due to the procedures of the House, we are unable to move this amendment today which is to be regretted.

I congratulate Senator Norris, not just on this debate tonight but on his lifetime commitment to this issue and the overall issues surrounding equality and gay rights. Jane Addams, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, remarked that: "The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life." We must now incorporate equality based on sexual orientation into our common life and law. This is the challenge for this House and this Oireachtas. Fine Gael will be pursuing the Government to ensure civil partnership legislation is introduced in 2008.