David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to refer a specific and grave matter to the relevant committee of the Oireachtas. It concerns homophobia. I would like to read the most authoritative statement on the welfare of children. It comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics and was published in April 2013. It reads:

Extensive data available from more than 30 years of research revealed that children raised by gay and lesbian parents have demonstrated resilience with regard to social, psychological and sexual health, despite economic and legal disparities and social stigma. Many studies have demonstrated that children's well-being is affected much more by the relationships with their parents, their parents' sense of competence and security, and the presence of social and economic support for the family than by the gender or the sexual orientation of their parents. Lack of opportunity for same-gender couples to marry adds to families' stress, which affects the health and welfare of all household members. Because marriage strengthens families and, in so doing, benefits children's development, children should not be deprived of the opportunity for their parents to be married. Paths to parenthood that include assisted reproductive techniques, adoption, and foster parenting should focus on competency of the parents rather than sexual orientation.

A complaint was made by a solicitor acting on behalf of a particular person. The solicitor was instructed on 11 January. That person remained on the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland until 23 January, nearly two weeks later. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is charged with upholding freedom of expression. There was a very clear conflict of interest.

On "The Late Late Show" I quoted from an interview, which can be substantiated. It states:

...this is really a kind of satire on marriage that is being conducted by the gay lobby. It is not that they want to get married, it is that they want to destroy the institution of marriage because they are envious of it ... [They] started a campaign for marriage which is purely an attempt to discredit an institution, a normative institution, on which society, on which human civilization, is founded...

That is an attack on gay people, which is clearly homophobic. It states gay people are an insidious element that is attempting to destroy our entire society. If I felt that way, I would believe it was right to repress them in the most strict and harsh manner possible.