Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

This is a sensitive and important issue. It is not helpful to talk about people's sincere views as destructive. It is not good to be holier than thou because ultimately we are deciding who has the right to be a parent and the construct in which they have that right.

I do not want this debate to be polarised into who is right and who is wrong, it is too important for that. I was disappointed to hear Senator Mullen quote research stating that two biological parents make up the best construct to give value for the child. Where does this leave adoptive parents? The amount of evidence that shows adoptive parents are providing wonderful homes for Irish children and that Ireland is exceptional in its provision of good homes, completely contradicts this research. I accept that the most important thing is for the child to be reared in a loving family. It is the quality of the relationship the child experiences as he or she grows that helps him or her become a full person in adulthood.

There is an anomaly in that a single person who is lesbian or gay can adopt in his or her own right but cannot do so jointly. That must be worked out. There is a wise phrase that one good single parent is better than two bad married parents and we must listen to the concerns on both sides of the argument. I respect those concerns of people in gay relationships who wish to be parents to adoptive children. I equally respect and uphold the rights of married couples to be adoptive parents.

Having said that, we should back up a little. We must now address this and the best way to do so is through the civil partnership Bill. We must get first principles correct, this is too important an issue to kick to touch quickly. Irish people need more time on the issue and, having noted the damage that can be done by saying biological parents are better than other parents, or that the views in some of the amendments are destructive, people do need more time and I am willing to give them that.