Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being present to give an answer. However, I note both the answer and the somewhat emotive language there as well. I do not know whether it always is Ireland's practice to oppose "no action" motions. It would be interesting to consider that question at another time. However, I believe that Ireland's response does no service to the quality of the original proposal, which reaffirmed that states have primary responsibility to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all human beings. It also is a gratuitous slap at the Irish Constitution, because we have families headed by grandmothers in Ireland and other situations and yet that is compatible with Irish provisions on the family and those families are respected in Ireland. Consequently, Ireland must get back to respecting its own Constitution in international fora and some of the language in this response was quite revealing of a certain disregard. It almost is as though people feel they are off the reservation when they are in international fora and they are not obliged to worry too much about what the Irish Constitution currently provides. This is an issue I will be taking up further, hopefully with the Minister and with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade because this important issue of respect for the Irish constitution by our officials in international fora is being brought to the surface here.