David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a mare's nest and it is a complete virago of nonsense. I am a believing, practising and church going Christian but the churches should get out of civil marriage. If there is a difficulty here, it is of their own making. There are two elements in a marriage which takes place in a church. There is the religious marriage and there is the civil marriage. As a practising Christian, I do not think it is appropriate for churches to be involved in what is essentially the legal parting of the raiment. The civil side gives effect to all kinds of property considerations, wills, inheritance and all of those kinds of things and I do not think that the churches should be involved in such matters. To use the Presbyterian Church as a cat's paw is a bit laughable.

Senator Mullen very honestly disclosed his motive. He said that we do not have to finish the Bill today - in other words, this debate is filibustering and is what happened during the debate on civil partnership legislation.