Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We live in a democracy and we should fully respect the wishes of the people to vote in accordance with their consciences and in a confidential manner at polling stations, as is their right. I regret very much the decision by Senator Power to leave the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party, where she played an important role, and she will continue to play an important role in this House. She is an enlightened Senator who brought good legislation through the House, and I wish her well in her continued work in this House and in whatever she decides to do politically or otherwise, because she is a breath of fresh air to politics.

On the referendum that was passed, I compliment and wish well Senator Zappone and indeed Senator Norris, who was at the forefront of this issue. However, I must point out that Fianna Fáil, through Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, brought forward the decriminalisation of homosexual acts, not homosexuality, which was not a criminal offence in Ireland. Furthermore, we brought-----