Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

I welcome the Minister. This is groundbreaking legislation and I feel very proud to be standing in Seanad Éireann as a Senator. It was interesting to listen to the previous speaker. Because of what he said, I would like to explore the issue of tolerance. As we are on Second Stage, we can explore some of the issues issues rather than the specifics of the Bill. I do not see where the issue of conscience arises on the Bill and would like to use the word "principle". This is a matter of principle, rather than conscience. People have values. We are here as the representatives of all the people, not of any narrow group, and we have to represent the people to the best of our ability. Tolerance, therefore, is very important. As Senator Mullen said, it is crucial that we accept that there are divergent views. I also accept that it is important that we have a vote on the Bill and it will be good to do so. I hope and expect there will be an overwhelming majority in favour of it, as we have moved on.

My mother is English and came to Ireland from London in the 1960s. She moved to Thurles, where I was born and which was a very interesting place. The first place she lived in was Senator Hanafin's father's hotel. She told me she was the first woman in Thurles to wear trousers, which was extraordinary, and that ladies dressed in shawls spat at her. Ireland was very different then. It was a society which was not tolerant of change in the way it is today.

What does that have to do with the issue of civil partnerships? Our society has changed enormously during the years. If one considers the figures, one will find that in 1996 there were 150 registered same-sex couples. In 2006 there were more than 2,090. Does that tell one there has been a huge increase in the number interested in being part of a same-sex couple? I do not believe that is what it tells us, rather it tells us that our society has changed and that people are now more comfortable in admitting they are gay. I hope we will see a lot more people admitting they are gay because one does not have to be in the closet. I hope it is something people will say with pride and honour and without fear that they will be abused by others or have to deal with some other issue.

I wish to return to the point of principle rather than conscience. Legislation concerns the law, not matters of conscience. Conscience falls within the realm of spirituality, religion and feelings. This is not a matter of conscience. We are dealing with civil partnerships, not religious ceremonies. It is simply a matter of principle. I respect the right of people to have principles which are not the same as mine, those of my political party or the majority. We have to be tolerant.

I have spoken to members of an older generation who have said they can accept civil partnership but not gay marriage. That is the current position. According to Lansdowne Market Research, some 51% - a very narrow majority - would accept gay marriage, whereas 84% are prepared to accept civil partnership. It is clear, therefore, that the majority are prepared to accept the Bill.

Like Senator Boyle, I give credit to the House. In 2004 Senator Norris introduced the Civil Partnership Bill. I also give credit to the Labour Party. Senator Bacik made an impassioned speech and has done a lot of work on this issue. In 2006 the Labour Party introduced the Civil Unions Bill which was groundbreaking legislation and laid the basis for the Bill which I hope we will pass today.

This is a complex Bill which I understand refers to 130 pieces of legislation. For the first time we are recognising something other than marriage in the context of equality. For those who believe the Bill does not go far enough, it needs to be recognised how far it goes. It is groundbreaking legislation. I feel great pride as an Irishman in being able to support it.

An Irish rock star in the 1980s had a song called, "Love and Pride" - I understand he was called King. I will not sing it.