Eoghan Harris (Independent)

I was one of the strongest supporters of the civil partnership Bill, so much so I was put up on one website as Gay-Friendly Senator of the Year. While I would like to say I unequivocally support this recommendation, to do so would be hypocritical. I resent the way this Bill has been rushed through this House. It is not the Minister's fault but of those who chivvied and worked up a big media ran-tan to rush it through. I must confess ignorance that I do not know whether this recommendation would work. When one is in a state of ignorance, one has to seek superior authority. I must, therefore, be guided by the Minister and accept that incorporating civil partnership in the Finance Bill would require 151 amendments.

These will be my last words in this House as I do not intend to be around here much longer. I have had a baptism of fire with politics. Edmund Burke once said he had engaged in many great projects with great men that were not improved by the meanest man in the room, as he had something to offer. Imagine how much better this Bill would have been with the benefit of the best minds in Ireland working on it. Already in the few rushed hours in this House, we have seen Senators bring to the surface and amplify subtleties in this legislation. How much better would this Bill have been if it had been given its proper passage of several weeks more?