Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I appreciate that, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I am on the amendments. I understand you have a difficult job to do. We must not shirk our responsibility. We must not stand and allow people to use their own views to jettison a Bill or to hijack people who want recognition for their partnerships. That is what these amendments are about. We either stand up and be counted or we do not. I genuinely understand Senator Quinn's comments. He is not wrong. He is not wrong, but we cannot have it both ways. We are either for civil partnership and recognition of unions or we are not.

I ask the people who proposed the amendments what is wrong with the wording of the Bill. What is so clearly wrong with what Senator Regan said the definition of civil status is? It does not mean there will be no change in status between single and married. It does not mean that at all. Senator Mullen should stop peddling nonsense.