Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think it was John F. Kennedy who, after a particular political debacle, coined the phrase, "Victory has a thousand fathers but failure is an orphan". I will speak on behalf of the orphans today. As a democrat, I accept the decision of the people. However, if I said I welcomed that decision, I would be a hypocrite because I do not welcome it. I still have fears and I hope that in the future they will not become more magnified. Those fears relate particularly to children and how they are taught in schools. I hope we do not go down the same route as Canada, where the human rights and equality commission is now visiting the homes of parents whose children said in school that their mammies and daddies told them that marriage between a man and a woman is best. Those parents are now receiving visits from the equality police who claim that what they are saying is not in accordance with the law. If we come to that, this will have been a real failure and how we manage that going forward is important.

I was in Dublin Castle on the day of the referendum count and one could not but be touched by the happiness of the people there, many of whom have struggled with their orientation and against prejudice. There is often an internal battle that many of us face in different aspects of our lives while trying to coming to terms with certain issues that we might not be 100% comfortable or happy with. For those people, I am happy. Some of them are my friends and I note how happy they are as a consequence of the referendum result. I wish to join others here in wishing them good health, happiness and every good fortune in the future.