Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The effect of what the Senator argued is that some people should be allowed to deprive others of a service from a shop or business solely because they object to the sexual orientation of a couple or an individual. They may ground their objections in a matter of conscience. They can call it what they like, but the effect is to deny people a service purely because of who they are, because of an inherent personal characteristic. It would be outrageous to allow this. Where does this stop? There were pubs in this country for many years that did not let women in. Is that just as okay? Is it exactly the same? Can one decide not to let women into one's establishment? If one comes from other fundamentalist religious viewpoints, can one refuse to serve Christians? Can one refuse to serve women? Can one refuse to serve women unless they are dressed in a particular way? That is all part of this argument. We live in a republic, where all citizens should be entitled to equal rights, equal respect and equal esteem.