Rónán Mullen (Independent)

We are honoured to have them in our presence and I hope we will have ladies and gentlemen from east Galway in the Gallery very soon. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, namely, that we take, before No. 1 on the Order of Business, No. 35, motion 16, in my name and those of Senators Quinn and Ross, which states:

That Seanad Éireann affirms that each Senator should vote according to his or her conscience on the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009 and, accordingly, calls on all political parties to allow a free vote to their members when any vote is called on the Bill itself, or on its individual sections, or on any amendment tabled.

I heard with interest what Senator Fitzgerald had to say when she quoted a person who said the Bill would change a young man's life. I hope it does change a person's life for the better and I am sure it will, in some respects, change people's lives for the better. However, other people's lives may be changed for the worse. Senator Fitzgerald said her party had a democratic debate on the Bill. If so, she cannot have any objection to a free vote. It is not to the credit of the Dáil that this Bill passed without a vote and the many concerns which I know were-----