Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Would the Leader agree that there is nothing in the international human rights instruments that requires a member state to legislate for same sex marriage or for civil partnership? The moral question is whether we will acknowledge the right of people to have a different ethical position. They should not be targeted by the law if they wish to live that ethical position. As things stand, Senator Dearey's party supports banging people up in prison and fining them if they dare to differ from the prevailing consensus around civil partnership. That is unjust.

I rose to speak on the issue of carers. It is troubling that, according to the Carers Association, there could be 28,000 children who might be carers in our society. Mr. Enda Egan of the Carers Association appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. It is time we had the long-promised debate on carers. There is a major issue with carer payments being refused. The particularly troubling problem is that people coming off carer's benefit are being denied the carer's allowance. In addition, there is a long delay before they discover that. It is taking up to four months to assess people and, if they are refused, it takes a further four months to appeal the decision. Carers should be at the top of our agenda. It is also worrying that these allowances are being refused on the ground of the health of the person being cared for, even though the doctor has signed off on the application. We will discuss State-funded benefits going to certain categories, and good luck to them, in the context of civil partnership, because that is a sexy cause, but where is the care for the carers? Where is the care for the people who are not as vocal and, perhaps, not as well connected in politically correct circles?