Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

Religious would seem to suggest it is about a higher being but perhaps they have a different wording. The point has been made that if pagans and spiritualists can get licences, there is hardly any other institution that comes within the scope of the Bill. That is true. This legislation was introduced in 2004. Has there been an application from anybody who has been excluded under the legislation and who has said it is not inclusive? As I said on Second Stage, and on which we are all agreed, the original legislation and its drafters were attempting to achieve inclusivity. The whole purpose of the legislation was about inclusivity and they did everything in their power not to exclude anybody.

One body, to which Senator Bacik referred, the Humanist Association of Ireland, is excluded under the current definitions. Essentially, that is what this Bill is all about. Now we have many wider definitions which will be introduced. I do not have any great problem with them but I am curious to establish their purpose and who they address, other than the Humanist Association of Ireland. What other organisation has applied and has been turned down for a licence to act as a solemniser since this legislation was introduced eight years ago?