Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This Bill, in tandem with the changes brought about the previous Government and the current Administration, helps us to come to terms with the past and to recognise and remember those people who were victims of the State. We have had progressive government, which built a platform for an Ireland where people are equal. The contribution Senator Ruane made was overtly negative around blood donations and pension provisions. The last Government changed inheritance and tax law under the Finance Acts to ensure equal treatment of all citizens.

The Bill before us today is about making a difference in people's lives. It may not be tangible to those who do not understand but to the men, like me and many others, who were criminalised under our law, it draws a line at one level and gives hope to a new generation. I hope we will never have to come back to Bills and debates like these. What happened on 23 May last year made us equal by a vote of the people. It was not done by the courts or the Oireachtas; it was the people who made that decision. I salute all those who worked quietly in the past to create a movement, such as that in Cork in the 1980s, which led to our being able to celebrate our equality today. I speak as a gay man and Member of our Parliament, conscious of the legacy of our State and recognising the improvements we have made in the lives of our people. Like Senator Ruane, I am conscious that we can never be complacent, because there is a generation who looks to us to continue on the road to equality. However, to infer there has been no progress is unfair.