Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy Leader for outlining the Order of Business. The Order of Business gives me an opportunity, on behalf of my party, to very much welcome the result of the marriage equality referendum, and not the presidential age referendum. The participation in the referendum by way of turnout was very heartening and shows that when civil groups, in particular, are at the centre of campaigns like this, people become engaged. It was heartening to see the response of the "Yes" vote.

It gives me great pleasure to commend, in particular, Senator David Norris. I am sure people will not mind me singling him out, as someone who has championed the cause of equal rights to same sex marriage dating back to when homosexuality was a criminal offence. It makes ones think how quickly this country has moved on in relative terms. I also commend Senators Katherine Zappone, Ivana Bacik and many others who played their part in having the same sex marriage referendum passed by the Irish people. There is a slight degree of irony here in that although we passed this referendum, we had a small break-up in the Fianna Fáil Party, but we are over that already and have moved on.