Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Norris's recommendation. I refer to the remarks of Senator O'Malley and the Minister this morning. It is terrible that we are rushing the legislation in this way. During the week, I spoke on the Order of Business in respect of this part of the Bill. I am greatly saddened that we are not dealing with the civil partnership Bill. The Minister may not have been aware - I have been - how much a part of the framing of the civil partnership Bill his contribution was when he was Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. When it passed all Stages in the House last June, the members of the Gallery, which was full, gave the Chamber a standing ovation such was the ground-breaking nature of this legislation. Senator Norris suggested the 150 amendments have not been drafted yet. Is this because it was decided that this part would be left out when the Minister met with the spokespersons on finance from the Opposition parties? Was it the Minister's decision to leave it out or was it a collective decision? I am somewhat surprised and annoyed that this has been left out of the Finance Bill because we were all at one on this matter.

I wholeheartedly support Senator Norris's recommendation. It is important in terms of interpretation that where we have "spouse", it would mean a partner. The Minister is a legal man. Where the word "spouse" appears, could we replace it with "spouse-partner"? Is there any reason we cannot have "partner" alongside the word "spouse", rather than rely on an interpretation? We are all aware that interpretations may change from time to time. It is courageous of Senator Norris to introduce the recommendation because it is holding, useful and meaningful until the finance (No. 2) Bill is introduced. If there is a change of Government and it is of the configuration that the media would have us believe, that is to say, a Fine Gael led Government with-----