Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

It could be included - people who rely on a bunch of aliens for their higher thinking.

This is very serious legislation which was initially introduced to be as inclusive as possible and has proven to be over the past eight years, with the exception of the Humanist Association of Ireland. That is why I tabled this amendment, which is very specific. It does not go into all the other elements.

By the way, I am not, in any way, diminishing the efforts Senator Bacik made. It is her Bill and I praised it and her initiative on Second Stage. I have not changed my view on that but this was being rolled over as if somehow we were into a new age of enlightenment here by including all these amendments in legislation, which the Minister will agree is quite simple and straightforward. Now it will have a whole load of bells and whistles attached to it - the reason being to include the Humanist Association of Ireland. I have heard no argument from Senator Bacik as to why she is including all of this other than to ensure the Minister is given the widest possible latitude to include the Humanist Association of Ireland.

Our amendment states that "body" means an authority or a religious body or the Humanist Association of Ireland. It seems to be pretty straightforward. There are no complexities about that. It is simple language and it fits easily into the legislation.