David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will conclude on the following point. I make no apology whatever for having opposed in speeches in this House the Government's Civil Partnership Bill because it was insufficient. There are 169 differences between it and the Marriage Bill, the most outrageous being the former's exclusion of children. To my mind, that was child abuse. I smiled when I read Una Mullally's book, in which I am attacked by Kieran Rose and told that I am not fit to be a Senator because I opposed that legislation. I called it a dog licence, which is exactly what it was. On this happy day of celebration I do not take a word of it back. It was a dog licence. Now that the dog licence has been consigned to the dog litter we have full and proper marriage. I am delighted. I only wish I was 50 years younger and I could go out and find somebody to marry.