Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

We are giving the Minister for Social Protection the power to designate bodies which may apply for the registration of members to solemnise marriages. That is what this is about. We are giving the Minister the power to do that into the future.

Time and again in her Second Stage contribution, Senator Bacik made reference to the fact the Humanist Association of Ireland was not involved. Listening to her Second Stage contribution, it seemed the whole purpose of her drafting this legislation was to include the Humanist Association of Ireland. Now we have a wider definition and the Minister of the day can decide who or what may register.

On Second Stage, I argued very strongly about the primacy of Parliament and that it should decide and not the Minister of the day because who knows what particular ethos or philosophy the Minister of the day will have. The Church of Scientology could be included. Senator O'Keeffe should not look quizzically; she knows what it is.