Seanad debates

Thursday, 8 November 2012

11:00 am

Photo of Michael MullinsMichael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in urging a strong vote for the constitutional amendment in the referendum on Saturday. This is a real opportunity to make a strong statement of our commitment to children and to righting the wrongs of the past. I do not think the "No" side has put forward a coherent argument as to why people should vote other than "Yes" on Saturday. I condemn some of the outrageous comments that were made on the "Frontline" programme on Monday night. I had great respect for the journalist John Waters, but on Monday night he lost the plot and what he said did a grave disservice to foster families. He should certainly withdraw his comments. Foster families have given a valuable service to the State and to vulnerable children over the years. Mr. Waters should consider what he said.

We will vote on Saturday, which is the first time we have had Saturday voting for a long time. It will be an opportunity for students and those who work away from home to vote. This is probably the most significant referendum we have held for many years. I applaud the work of the all-party committee and compliment everybody for his or her contribution to the wording of the amendment. The Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is to be commended in particular for pulling all the threads together and for achieving a wording that was acceptable to all sides. Saturday is a crucial day for our country. It is important for the lives of future children and is an opportunity to show we have learned from the mistakes of the past and will never allow a recurrence of the awful things that happened.

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