Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the extensive legislative programme for the spring and summer session until the end of July. I note there are 41 Bills on the A list. I very much welcome publication of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill and the fact that the Gender Recognition Bill will commence in this House tomorrow. Some very important legislation is on the agenda. Could the Leader make efforts to ensure that the Employment Equality (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill, which will amend section 37 of the Employment Equality Act and ensure greater equality for LGBT employees in particular in the areas of health and education, could resume Committee Stage and pass through Report Stage in the Seanad before the end of February in order that it might be passed into law by Easter? I am conscious, as we all are, of the marriage equality referendum, which is to be held in May of this year. I welcome the extensive support evident in opinion polls for such a measure, but it is clear that there cannot be any complacency around it. We need to lay the legislative groundwork for that, not only with the Employment Equality (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill but also with the child and family relationships Bill. I ask the Leader to ensure that we have time put aside for Committee and Report Stages of the Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill.