David Norris (Independent)

I want to move on from that to the Roscommon case. I have been disgusted by some of the comments made in this House, for example, during the discussion of civil partnership, etc. We were told, and it was reported by various interest groups, that a gay couple would not be fit to raise children. Would those Roscommon children not have been better raised by a loving couple who happen to be of the same sex than exposed to this particular family? This concept of family is protected in an idolatrous fashion despite the damage it does. We should not have any more of this cant and nonsense.

I remember exactly what Senator O'Toole said about how we were blackguarded when we raised the question of Stay Safe. We were asked about the rights of parents, as if it was a right of parents to molest their own children. I remember these organisations and the personnel, who have remained the same. It is the very same rotten source in Irish society. I will no longer tolerate being told by groups and organisations, including the church, who represent forces that singly fail to protect children that gay people are not as good as anybody else at keeping children——