Seanad debates

Thursday, 26 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. However, Senator van Turnhout, if you had been in my position I think you would also have made a comment about this. Let us respect each other as colleagues. I am advancing what I believe is the fundamental human rights position, which is the prior right of the child. I do that with integrity according to my likes and in no sense to denigrate any other person but in a real way to advance what I believe are children's rights and best interests in all situations as the central consideration.

I said beforehand and I repeat that if Senator Power were to reflect on what I am proposing, she would see it very much tends in the direction she has advanced rightly and admirably in other areas, which is that core aspect of the child's best interests. Just because one believes that a child's best interests rule out or ought to rule out certain procedures does not mean one lacks sympathy for those who would aspire to those procedures. As grown-ups in a national Parliament, we should be able to get that distinction clear in our heads and our hearts.

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