Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her encouraging response. I ask her to convey to the Tánaiste my view that we should redouble our efforts to preserve human dignity and something we accept generally in our Constitution. The religion that seems most at risk worldwide at the moment is Christianity, which is unfortunate. Ireland is tolerant of most religions and while we have had our faults and failings, we should be cognisant that there is an effort in many Middle Eastern countries, Africa and elsewhere to diminish the Christianity with which we are associated. Even China has 5 million or 6 million Christians who are allowed to practise - which is more than the number of practising Christians in Ireland. We are swimming against the tide as Christians. I thank the Minister of State for her response and I ask her to ask the Tánaiste to redouble his efforts and keep the issue to the fore.