Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Clearly, this would be just a change of phraseology in that wherever there is a reference to civil status, there would be a reference to marital or civil status. That would apply to the proposed equality legislation also. In other words, the new prohibitive ground would be marital or civil status.

There is a separate amendment which I hope the Minister has studied in great detail and to which I hope he will respond in the affirmative. It is proposed that difficulties of conscience be specifically catered for and that there be a limitation of the scope.