David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I look forward to all those on the "No" side joining us in saying how wonderful civil marriage is after the referendum passes.

With regard to the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev. Dr. Martin, I believe he is right to consider the question of whether the church should be involved in civil marriage. I have never thought it should be involved.I always have felt we should be like the French and should separate the State and the church. I see no spiritual reason for churches of any kind, including my own, to be involved in the division of spoils, which is basically to what this idea of civil marriage accounts. He is perfectly entitled to look after it; well done. I think they should have thought of it before they were faced with the equality referendum.

I wish to raise one other matter with the indulgence of the Cathaoirleach, namely, the horrible situation in Nepal. A women named Edith Wilkins started the Edith Wilkins Street Children Foundation, which is located in Darjeeling, India, very close to the borders of Nepal. It has 28 Nepalese-speaking volunteers, including two Irish people. The Nepalese Government is hampering matters by imposing a tax and all kinds of regulations and so on. The Irish Government has given €1 million, which at the time I stated was welcome but too small. The Edith Wilkins trust, which is on the ground with Nepali-speaking people in the area, has been told the funds all have been allocated to the traditional funding recipients. I ask the Leader, as a matter of urgency, to write to the Minister mentioning the Edith Wilkins trust and asking that it be included for some small amount of money because the trust is in the position-----