Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I understand where Senator Quinn is coming from and I disagree profoundly with my good friend, Senator Norris. In fairness to Senator Quinn, his comments are fair and balanced, unlike the amendments. They have no merit.

Senator Ó Murchú spoke about the import of the Bill and Senators Walsh and Hanafin spoke about the crux of their opposition to the Bill. Herein lies the crux as I understand from them. The Bill is about civil partnership and the tenet of it is civil status. That is what the Bill is about. It is about creating a civil partnership and recognising that partnership. I have a profound difficulty with the amendments. I have listened to the debate on this section of the Bill and I cannot understand where the amendments are coming from. They are the beginning of an attack on what the Bill is about.