Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Michael Noonan, to the House. We all very much welcome this Bill. It was very evident on Second Stage how much support there is for it across the floor of the House. It is clearly designed to give effect to the commitments in the programme for Government following from the passing of the civil partnership legislation. We all very much welcome that. On Second Stage, Senator Zappone put forward some very constructive and useful proposals as to how relatively minor amendments might be made.

This recommendation is one that may deserve further consideration given that it would, if accepted, make very little change to section 1. It simply proposes to change "in fact living separately and apart" to "in fact separated". Has the Minister had an opportunity to review that and consider whether the current wording is the best means of describing what is intended?