Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and Dr. David Parris and his partner to the Seanad. I do not doubt the Minister's personal commitment to this issue. I hope the Government will come on board and that this will not be dragged out. Senator Bacik has to be thanked for the way she set out the background to this Bill and the work she did in bringing it forward. She and her colleagues in the Labour Party have my absolute support. This is important legislation. I am surprised that there should be any big issue about it. This should go through.

It is also important that the Government comes on board. This concerns the equality of same-sex couples and the follow through from their right to marriage and their succession rights and for their loved ones to benefit from their hard work, their thole and their choice to pass on and share what they have sown and reaped. They are entitled to pass that on to those whom they choose. I have read the Parris judgment, which is very interesting. It is a legacy Bill, tidying up and having a real effect on people. Will the Minister indicate how this can be rolled out quickly and without further delay? I thank all involved in preparing this Bill.