Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Former Senator and Leader of the Seanad, Senator Manning, was our lecturer at the time. This is exceptionally important legislation. It is funny when one talks about apology because the word "sorry" is only one word but it means so much to so many people. It is not a difficult word to say or a difficult concept to express. We saw the Taoiseach in one of his proudest moments when he stood up in Dáil Éireann and gave a heartfelt and sincere apology to the victims of sexual abuse. There are certain things we need to do as a society. I tabled a motion here last week on history and I believe that in order to look to the future, one has to understand the past. The wrongs that have happened in the past need to be acknowledged and a proper structure put in place to rectify them. I agree with what has been said about the principle of a pardon because it would not be appropriate because it is, in a sense, acknowledging that somebody has done something wrong. It is absolutely appropriate that there should be an apology. I am absolutely delighted, on behalf of the Fine Gael group of Senators, as their spokesperson on justice to fully endorse the Bill. My understanding is that the Minister will not oppose it. If there is tweaking to be done, it will only be of a technical nature to ensure everything stands up to whatever scrutiny the Attorney General and others may give to it. There may not even be any.

What a week it has been in world politics. We have seen what only a couple of years ago one would have thought was a dream or a horrible nightmare. That is the reality. Politicians are regularly accused of not fulfilling their promises but what is going on in the United States at the moment is over-fulfilling promises. It is creating a new definition of political promise and delivery upon promise and rhetoric and all that is going on. The people who will suffer as a result are the people at the margins. The people who have suffered bigotry and all that goes with it in the past are the people who will suffer most with what is going on. What we achieved here with the marriage equality referendum was world renowned. We set a standard and a template for what Ireland, as a small country, can achieve. When we talk, we might only be throwing a pebble into a big ocean but pebbles can have ripple effects. Doing the right thing is always a must. Ripple effects can change society, lives and world thinking. We are a small country but we are a country with a proud tradition and a proud record. The referendum on marriage equality had an impact. It had a ripple effect throughout the world. Doing the right thing is what we should always strive to do. Setting international standards in terms of equality, recognising what has happened in the past and putting the structures in place to say the simple word "sorry" is something we should definitely come together and unite on in this House. I sincerely hope the work Senator Nash has done to bring this Bill to the floor of the House will receive unanimous support and that we will see this Bill becoming an Act signed by our President and becoming part of who we are and part of the structures of society.

I wish the Bill well. I look forward to engaging on the Bill, both on Committee and Report Stage, and hopefully will be here to welcome its passing when it is passed by this House.