David Norris (Independent)

I support Senator Bacik. The Minister of State has explained this as a policy whereas legislation is the implementation of policy. He has been very clear in this area about the policy he strongly advocates and it would be a pity to miss this opportunity to implement the policy or at least to provide a framework within which it can be implemented. I am a little disturbed at his reluctance to accept an amendment that is in clear alignment with his own policy. It proposes to implement the policy, which is the purpose of legislation. If the policy only exists as a pious aspiration, it will have no impact on the lived experience of people in Dublin.