Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Paddy Burke. It is confusing to have two kinds of birth certificates. If it is more acceptable to the vast majority of applicants to have just one, it should be legislated for. Thus, we would have good legislation and regulation. Senator Paddy Burke should be listened to in this regard. The Minister of State is very approachable. I congratulate him because I have not yet had a chance to do so. I have not spoken in the House on any subject relevant to his portfolio since he was appointed. He is the longest-sitting Member of the Oireachtas and has a very distinguished family tree, which demonstrates the commitment of his family to public office. I congratulate him and look forward to working with him for the next four and a half years. It is a dream come true. To be in this House as a Minister of State is the pinnacle of his political career to date.

I support Senator Paddy Burke's call to have one kind of birth certificate because, if this were achieved, everybody would find the application system much more simple.