Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I concur with Senator Healy Eames in regard to the horror of bullying in schools. I declare an interest in that I sit on the boards of approximately 120 secondary schools in this country through the CEIST network. I would wish the school which Senator Healy Eames and I attended and any other school with which I am involved to be cold houses for bullies, regardless of whether their bullying is on the basis of a person's appearance or same-sex attractions. That has to be made clear.

We are at present debating two amendments which would bring about the institutionalisation of same-sex adoption. I remind Members that I have not proposed an amendment to the Bill which would seek to second guess what happens under the law. I am aware that single people can apply to adopt and that children are sometimes adopted into situations involving de facto same-sex couples. Members will not see an amendment from me which calls for that to end. The Minister of State is correct to outline circumstances in which a 17 year old child might wish to be adopted into a particular situation. The best interest of the child would probably dictate that he or she be left with his or her biological parents, who may be a same-sex couple.

I am speaking against the amendments proposed by Senators Norris and Bacik, which would create as a norm the concept of same-sex adoption.