Eoghan Harris (Independent)

Let me finish by congratulating the Minister on honouring the commitment made by the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, in the programme for Government in 2007. As I am a conservative who believes in Burke's definition of society as a contract between the living, the dead and those who are yet to be born, I regard this as a good day's work.

I feel the shadow of Wilde and Casement here today. They, too, belonged to that tradition, our greatest literary genius and one of our great political icons who gave his life in public service to the oppressed peoples of the world and who - because he would not have been executed for high treason but for his sexuality - died for his sexuality. I am glad to be here today in the shadow of Casement and Wilde. We should be the country leading Europe. With two such huge icons we should be the leading country in Europe in moving towards full marriage status for our gay community.