Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

Before I deal with the substantive issue, I note there was broad consensus in both Houses when the civil partnership legislation was put into Irish law. This does not diminish the rights of colleagues on any side to take a different stance in this regard and I refer to a point made by Senator Mullen. I was in the Dáil and participated in and listened to that debate. Close to 70 Deputies spoke and I do not remember a debate in which so many colleagues spoke on an issue. There was no guillotining of the debate in the other House and no clamping down of people's personal expressions. The Senator suggested the debate in Dáil Éireann was closed down. That is not true.