Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I shall refer to this when we come to much more fundamental amendments in regard to what we will allow take place, whereby people of reasonable and tolerant views will find themselves in jail as a consequence of those views.

It has been suggested we are mean-spirited. That would not be my intention in any way. Senator Bacik may have had a point, which I had not noticed until now, with regard to placing "civil" ahead of "partnership", so that the title would read "Civil partnership and cohabitants non-marital relationships Bill 2010". If the Minister is minded to accept the amendment, I am happy to allow him bring back his own proposal in that regard on Report Stage.

The thrust of what we are endeavouring to do in this amendment is to make a reference in the title that clearly distinguishes the civil partnership, which is the subject of this Bill, and the cohabitant arrangement as being entirely different from marital relationships. I make no apology to anyone inside or outside this House. I have stated that consistently since Senator Norris tabled his Civil Partnership Bill in 2005. I said I would support measures he sought, justifiably, in respect of people in his own community who have suffered long and hard because of discrimination. I acknowledge that. However, I stated that the threshold for me would be equivalence to marriage. I oppose marriage equality measures for same-sex couples because I believe marriage is for heterosexual couples. It is safeguarded in our Constitution and there are very good reasons, which we may touch on later, as to why that is the case.