Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I congratulate Senator Bacik and the Labour Party for tabling this legislation. This Bill is simple, effective and comprehensive. It meets all needs and requirements. I am appalled we cannot have the attitude of accepting that this has been produced by someone of significant legal stature in this country who knows what she is talking about. It is as comprehensive as anything a draftsperson in the Department of Health and Children will produce. People are afraid to take a decision. We talk about transformation of the public sector and this is the kind of transformation we need, where people have the confidence to take decisions. There will not be a better item of legislation to emerge and we could have dealt with this by accepting the Bill. If changes are needed, we could make the changes on Committee Stage. I regret this has not been done. I welcome the Minister of State and I do not take from her good intentions but it is a different issue. When the Government talks about transformation in the public sector, it is referring to decision-making, effectiveness and proper use of resources. This is all seen in what has happened tonight. This legislation has been put together and packaged in a correct and all-encompassing fashion. The Government should be big enough to say "well done" or accept that it is 90% in agreement and make some small changes. The Bill deals with everything.

In complimenting Senator Bacik, I note that the simplicity of the Bill is awesome. I found the Bill absolutely sickening to read, never mind considering what we are dealing with. Female genital mutilation is no less than a barbaric, savage, feudal and sickening act that is offensive. It breaks the existing law in terms of offences against the person.

It is of great importance that we pass this Bill, including for the reasons given by Senator Mary White. We need to educate people. I disagree with those who have suggested education is more important. I am a teacher and I believe in education. Would that education was more transformative than transmissive, as I said many times as a young teacher and as a teachers' leader. Unfortunately, it is not. Some 95% of education transmits the cultural values of one generation to another, much as we may like to change this. This is what each generation demands and it monitors change, as every teacher who has taught a class knows. This can be seen in First Communion, where those who do not go to mass still insist their children go through First Communion and Confirmation, even though they are non-practising. These are the cultural values transmitted from one stage to another. I share the views of Senator Mary White on churching. I always thought it was the dirtiest, most offensive thing that took place within the walls of a church.

I want to back up my point about the relationship between education and legislation. I defended the first teacher to win a case under the employment equality legislation of 1977. Even though everyone agreed with equality at that point, we could not create change in education until it was the law of the land. The same thing happens here.