Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I accept that clarification. Senator Corrigan spoke about the lack of information in the District Court. As she knows, the report made a recommendation that a study be done to elicit information on judgments and decisions made in regard to the child care legislation in order that we would know what issues are raised in terms of the limits on the ability to support families where children are at risk and, of course, referring to the crucial issue of proportionality.

Senator Norris mentioned the Civil Partnership Bill, a matter for debate on another day, and also referred to the right of a child to have his or her voice heard. One of the recommendations made in the report published last week is that this be one of the few enumerated rights included in the Constitution.

Senator Feeney said there should be no long-term fostering. However, I argue that long-term fostering is appropriate in certain circumstances. Adoption breaks a child's ties with his or her siblings, not only with his or her family. It will not suit everybody, but there will be a role and place for long-term foster care for some children.

Senator O'Malley spoke about the need for a total revamp of the Constitution which, again, is probably outside the bounds of this debate. She said that if Senator Norris was a woman, women's rights would have been advanced much more quickly, having regard to how much he has argued for on behalf of gay people; however, women are not a minority group.