Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know that. The conspiracy was in my family, sometime around May, a few weeks ahead of the referendum. It was a pincer movement by my eldest daughter. There are five wonderful children in our family, thanks be to God. Our eldest, a 27 year old in Perth was conspiring down under, while at the other end of the family spectrum our 19 year old who is a student in Sligo Institute of Technology was conspiring with his friends and fellow students in Sligo and Leitrim, and my wife headed up the pincer movement. I was left with no choice in the matter, it was either the door or vote “Yes”. I love my wife and family and saw a lot of merit in the argument they were putting forward. The reason I relay this piece of nonsense is that it is an indication of the discussion, debate and dialogue going on in many families all over Ireland. I doubt if there are any families or individuals who do not in their immediate or extended family have a member who is gay or who do not know somebody who is. This referendum question had a big impact on the electorate, which was reflected in the overwhelming vote.

I also believe it is important in a democracy to acknowledge that not everybody was in favour of this legislation. Senator Mullen referred to 38%, which in real figures was 750,000 people. More people voted “No” than voted Fine Gael into government in 2011. They did not believe this was a question they could say “Yes” to. In a democracy the people, of course, are sovereign. Senator Mullen took a particular position on the referendum and is gracious enough to accept that. This is not reopening the debate but putting on the record that many of the issues he raised in his contribution, which I am sure the Minister will respond to, reflect the views of those 750,000 people on this legislation, especially those who adhere to strong Christian belief. I do not know the position of all the Christian churches in Ireland but I know from discussions with priests that in the Catholic Church the issues raised by Senator Mullen would be of deep concern and would reflect the view of those who are active members of the church. This is democracy as well. This is not a question of reopening the referendum but it is to make sure that in giving effect to the result of the referendum, the legislation does not step on other toes because that would not be democracy. That would be government by domination.

Fianna Fáil as a party has always believed in the republican ethos that all citizens are equal. It is not a case of empty rhetoric. In this instance it goes back to 1994 when the then Minister for Justice, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn introduced legislation to decriminalise homosexuality. I am old enough to have been in the House for that historic legislation and was very happy to vote for it. That culminated in 2010 and I was very happy and honoured to be here when we passed the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2010. The Minister was here as leader of the Opposition in the House. That was a night of high emotion such as I had never before experienced.

Anybody who questions my party’s credibility or bona fides in respect of legislation of this nature needs to stop and reflect. We have a very proud record in this area but it is in keeping with our republican ethos. Our members, not just within the parliamentary party during those years but across the country, debated in March 2012 and then voted to pass a resolution supporting equal marriage rights. We have been consistent in our support for this important concept. At the core of the overwhelming “Yes” in early summer, people wanted to profess their belief that all the citizens of this country are equal. This is a measure for equality. Others may have a different view of the rights and wrongs, or the various shapes of marriage and the husband and wife terminology but the majority of people, and I, voted to ensure that we could look our fellow citizens in the eye and say they are no different to us, they are as equal as we are before the law of this democracy and I welcome and embrace that. I am very happy that the people of Ireland did what they did.