Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I am not questioning the Minister's bona fides. He knows me well enough to know that I am a straight talker. We tabled an amendment which, despite what anyone might say, is inconsequential to the interests of people who are in same-sex relationships who want to enter civil partnerships. There is no way the amendment could denigrate the position in this regard. However, the amendment constitutes a litmus test. In that context, I ask the Minister to address the genuine concerns that I raised in my letter to him dated 19 September-----