Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

While I had not intended to contribute further on this amendment, the Minister stated that the complexity of these issues - all sides acknowledge that they are complex - could be addressed by the Executive making proposals and the Oireachtas making decisions on the disposal of these complex matters. If it is suggested that this will be done under the Whip system, the necessary checks and balances will not be in place. If, however, a free vote will apply, as I believe it should, Members of the Oireachtas may have personal views on the matter. To have these views informed by socio-scientific studies that have been collated independently would be of remarkable assistance to the process given the large number of issues involved and the difficulty associated with steering our way through these matters and arriving at good decisions in the interests specifically of children.