Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like other Senators, I add my voice to welcoming the outcome of the children's rights referendum. The outcome was much closer than I thought it would be and there are a number of reasons for this. We need to interpret the results, including the reasons so many people voted "No" and ensure their concerns and issues are addressed. Somebody mentioned a lack of trust in social workers. What also came across was a lack of trust in the Government. This was well defined by the Tánaiste today when he spoke about redefining marriage. This is one of the concerns which affected people who voted "No". They questioned whether the Government was genuine in its approach to protecting children. A plethora of international reports and research and analysis conducted in this country clearly show the best interests of the family lie within the married family. The Minister acknowledged the importance of a father and a mother both playing a role in the development and rearing of children when we debated the issue. I call on her to return to the House soon to debate the issue again.

Concerns were also raised about the assurances of the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, to Deputy Mick Wallace that he would introduce abortion based on the X case, which would be very liberal. This concerns many people. I have asked in the House previously whether the children's rights referendum was about some children or all children. We need to focus on these issues.

With regard to the ¤1.1 million misappropriated by the Government in spending on the referendum, I will not criticise Ministers of Fine Gael or the Labour Party for campaigning strongly, but like other parties, they should fund it themselves. I call on the Minister to come to the House to give us an assurance that the ¤1.1 million will be refunded to the Exchequer.