David Norris (Independent)

While I do not wish to impugn the Minister's honour or goodwill in this matter, since the Social Welfare Bill was used as an instrument to discriminate viciously against gay people, it is perfectly appropriate that it be used in a positive manner to remove the discrimination. There is nothing to prevent that in the future. It can be done now quite easily, simply and technically. It would be a good day's work.

I have heard about this Bill for the past four years. It has now been postponed until the end of 2009. I had a Civil Partnership Bill on the Order Paper of the House for four years and it was kicked to touch every time. I cannot remember how many committees there were. There was the Anne Colley committee, the human rights committee, the committee on the constitution and old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. The whole gasworks were involved in it and they all said, "Yes, go ahead and do it." The courts said the same. I do not know what the problem is. It is being long-fingered again.

I remind the Minister that justice delayed is justice denied. I look for the amendment to be accepted. I am not anti-family. I would like the Minister to know that because a Senator from Wexford on the Government side of the House produced material on supporting the family. It was apparently intended to undermine those of us taking a progressive point of view. I offered to sign it and begged to have it given to me so I too could support the family. I did not come out of the hot tap in the bath. I came from a family. I support the family. I do not support it with uncritical fervour regardless of whether the father is fiddling with the children or there are other types of abuse going on. There are some pretty rotten families. To use the family as a scapegoat for denying people human rights is an idiotic piece of nonsense. I do not accept what the Minister has to say on this issue.