Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I add my own good wishes to Tom McGrath on his retirement as Head Usher. I thank him for the great support and help he has given over the years. He has been extremely facilitatory to all Members and we appreciate that.

I welcome the Government announcement yesterday that a referendum on marriage equality will be held during the lifetime of the Government, probably in the first half of 2015. It is vital we move forward on this vital civil liberties issue. I pay tribute to Senators Norris and Zappone who in this House have been hugely instrumental in moving the debate forward. The introduction of the civil partnership legislation was an important step on the road to the equality, but clearly that alone was not equality. I am hopeful the referendum will be passed. I am also glad we have time to prepare the ground for that and that the Minister for Justice and Equality has committed to publishing by Christmas a children and family relationships Bill, which will go a long way to ensuring equality for children, irrespective of the family unit they are in or the marital status of their parents. That is important ground work that should be done. It is also important to note the role of the Constitutional Convention and its resounding majority in favour of this referendum.

I call again on the Leader in that context to invite Mr. Tom Arnold, the chairperson of the convention, to speak to us not only about that recommendation but also about the range of recommendations the convention has made, including the most recent recommendation on blasphemy. It recommended last weekend that this offence should be deleted from the Constitution. It would be good to hear from Mr. Arnold about the work the convention has done and the work on amendments it will undertake next February.

I echo Senator Darragh O'Brien's welcome of the announcement by the Minister for Justice and Equality yesterday that he will appoint a senior counsel to conduct an independent review of the Fr. Niall Molloy case. I acknowledge the significant contribution made in pushing that issue onto the agenda by my colleagues in the Labour Party, Senators John Kelly and John Whelan, who have been instrumental in getting this decision made. This again demonstrates the role of the Seanad in vital issues of public policy.

Reference was made yesterday by Members to the new international soccer management team. I welcome the appointment of Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane. They will be a strong team and there will be huge celebrations. Even Eamon Dunphy has welcomed it.