Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Then we will have to find another forum in which to decide the truth of the matter, because Senator Norris has sought to misrepresent the situation.

Senator Norris talked about the case of Mrs. Gill. It should be perfectly possible to give children rights and to acknowledge they have them in such a situation without necessarily envisaging same-sex adoption or a formalisation of the relationship. I would have thought that if one member of a same-sex couple was a biological parent and both had care of the child, it would be in the best interests of the child for the couple to contract privately to make sure the child was at no disadvantage in the event of the death of one or other parent.

We could also consider presumptive schemes, for example, whereby we could ensure the law would protect the child's rights. However, we must avoid the mentality that sees the adoption of children in any circumstances as somehow the right of the parent. It is the child's right to be in the optimum circumstances. The State cannot ignore, nor should it ignore, the fact that in considering what is optimum in society it must have regard to time-honoured tradition, the statistically supported importance of two-parent families, biological if possible, and the complementarity of the male-female relationship. I do not think I am being very radical or very conservative in proposing that.