Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Thomas Byrne. I support the comments of Senator Fidelma Healy Eames on the need to take a radical and close look at ensuring our taxation system encourages entrepreneurship and investment, in addition to a work ethic, across the country. The current application of the universal social charge does not do this.

We had a well-attended and very good debate last night on the rights of adopted children. It is very much predicated on the integrity of genetic identity and, second, the best interest of the child. I hope that we inject these two principles as guiding lights into all policies of the Government on the family. In that regard, we had a minute's silence this morning — very appropriately on this day — to show concern over violence against women. We should invite to the House the Minister for Justice and Equality to have a debate on marriage. There is a need for it. Ireland has a low rate of divorce by comparison with other states, and it is important that we preserve that. It is important that we do so in the interest of the children. Many couples who find their relationship in difficulty stay together until the children reach a certain age in order to protect them. Others go to great lengths to ensure the children are at least cushioned from the psychological effects of separation.

I came across a survey carried out in Sweden in recent years. Sweden has had divorce for much longer than Ireland. The researchers studied middle-aged and older women who divorced 30, 40 or 50 years ago and found that there was a much higher incidence of mental illness among women whose parents had divorced while they were children. We should be conscious of that. I would like a full debate in the House on this. We have had divorce for 20 years in Ireland. I acknowledge we are not good at doing scientific research on the social implications of such matters but believe there should be some debate on the no-fault divorce and whether it needs to be examined in light of our experience.

The rights of fathers in this matter should be paramount. Many fathers are deprived of access to their children when their relationship breaks down. This is not in the interest of the children in the vast majority of cases, and that needs to be examined. While I am strong on the rights of fathers, I am also strong on the fact that fathers and mothers who walk away from their children, but particularly fathers, have responsibilities in addition to rights. The State has an obligation to follow through on this. I ask the Leader to have a debate on this.