Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join others in welcoming the opportunity to make a few points on the Bill, many of which have been made already. At this stage I do not want to take from Senator Power's concluding comments. I agree with our Leader on this side of the House that it is a basic question of all people in the country being equal and as such the same rights should be available to everybody. For far too long on a range of issues we have had the approach from George Orwell's Animal Farm that all people are equal, but some are more equal than others. Senator Power and the Fianna Fáil Party in introducing the Bill this evening have provided the Legislature with the ideal vehicle to begin the journey in changing this injustice. There is a bit of "previous" here in terms of legislation that has been suggested from this side of the House, which has been wholeheartedly welcomed by successive speakers on the other side of the House including the line Minister and then the constitutional safety net was introduced as the reason for not progressing beyond Second Stage - the Family Home Bill comes to mind. However, given that the Minister was able to accept Second Stage of the Debt Settlement and Mortgage Resolution Office Bill in the other House, it proves that Second Stage could be accepted here today.

Many of the people sitting behind me in the Gallery, many more watching online and very many more throughout Irish society would like a clear signal notwithstanding the Minister's comments which have been welcomed by everybody. The appropriate action would be to accept Second Stage and embrace what is after all the legislative process. Committee Stage will offer all - whether it is Senator Walsh on this side, others on the other side or indeed Senator Power herself - the opportunity to propose the necessary improvements so that the law can pass. For that reason I very much hope we will be putting the House to a vote on the issue.