Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One legislates to put the best interests of the child at the centre and, from a public policy perspective, provide as much stability for the different family types as possible. The Bill is only one aspect of supporting families. Undoubtedly, children in all family types need a range of supports. No one more than I will call and work for the development of family support services in order that children can have good parenting and, where there are difficulties, early intervention. That is necessary.

In terms of discrimination, the amendment potentially would deprive single women of the chance to fulfil a much desired wish to become mothers. Acceptance of the amendment would serve to restigmatise lone parents and suggest lone parenting was unacceptable. The country spent decades talking about doing away with references to "illegitimate" children. We fought hard to get rid of the discrimination that impacted on these children. Why would we use this legislation to start a new hierarchy of family types instead of dealing with children's diverse situations and doing the best for them in terms of stability in parenting and supporting parents? Where a woman gives birth to a child, under Irish law she is the mother. Marriage continues to be constitutionally protected. Nothing in this legislation will change that protection. Constitutional protection also remains for children in married families. The question in the referendum will be different, in that it will be about extending the right to marriage.

We are discussing the 300,000 people with fertility or subfertility problems. Some might choose to use AHR, while others might choose to use DAHR. We are debating how to regulate this issue in order that their children can have stability and the chance to be reared by loving parents. Some Senators have an opposition in principle to DAHR and are expressing their disagreement with it on the floor of the House. That is the position they have taken. The Department of Health is introducing comprehensive AHR legislation which will address a wide range of issues. In this Bill, however, we are addressing the parentage issues in Ireland which impact on children and their families.We are doing it in a way that is extremely child centred. The legislation has not been rushed and nor has it been delayed; rather, it is overdue. That is precisely what the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction said in 2005. This is an area in respect of which regulation is needed.