Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I agree the amendments are important. They go to the core of the reservations people have about aspects of the Bill, including those who have children in loving and caring same-sex relationships. There is a temptation in dealing with such sensitive issues to sidestep them, but, while that is wise in some instances, it is also dishonest. I concur with the view of the previous speaker that the focus in this area should not be on the interests of same-sex couples or adults of any particular gender but should centre on the child. For this reason, I do not embrace the notion of gay adoption. I know there are good gay couples who have children and I have no doubt the children in question are well cared for but, as the Minister acknowledged, children have an entitlement, where possible, to a mother and father. This is recognised in our Constitution and, as Senator Mullen correctly noted, in our adoption laws. We should have a hierarchy of adoptees and preferences in the interests of the child.

I referred to reports that were done in the United States and Britain, especially in the former, with regard to children in various relationships. I am sure those countries have the same multiplicity of relationships as we have in this country. The reports in question clearly indicate that children reared by their mother and father tend to have better outcomes in a range of areas. One of my colleagues in the House took some umbrage at this point and may have understood it to be a criticism of single parents. I came from a single parent family. In the past two decades, I have seen many young girls who were single mothers sacrifice careers and give full and absolute attention to the rearing of their children. It is commendable that they chose to do this and many of their children have turned out to be excellent citizens. That is not the point, however. A child who has the complementarity of the influence of a male and female - his or her mother and father - as he or she grows up through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood has better prospects. This is the issue on which we should focus.

I was appalled the other evening on "The Frontline" television programme to hear the chairman of the Law Reform Commission dismiss as insignificant the surveys to which I referred. A young man in the audience asked whether the judge was dismissing evidence. I raise this because I have listened not only in this area-----