Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with one point made by Senator Mac Conghail - this debate provides us with an opportunity to make a civic gesture. The Minister should accept this amendment and allow the debate to proceed. If, as he states, he is sincere about listening, I ask him to show sincerity by accepting the amendment and allow a forum to consider this issue for seven months. The amendment does not dictate what the Minister must do but states what the forum should do. Surely the Minister would have more control over such a forum than the Seanad would have. It will lead me to doubt his words if he cannot make a gesture and defer the decision on this matter to the forum. I await his reply.