Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understand. My apologies. I do not want to interfere with anybody’s duties, whether in the home, sa teaghlach, nó in aon áit eile. That is the first point. It would be interesting to hear what the views were.

I am supporting Senator Keogan's amendment because it is a generous amendment and it is one way to address the issue.I have absolutely no problem saying that the privileging of a mother's duties in the home should be widened to a less gender-specific reference to the duties of parents within the home. I have always said that. I note in passing that the reference to "mháithreacha ... ina ndualgais sa teaghlach" does not appear to my reading of the Constitution to confine itself to a marriage-based family. It refers to "mháithreacha ... sa teaghlach" which is an interesting point in itself.

Senator O'Reilly suggested that people were being perhaps being less than upfront about what they were really opposing. She had no problem at all if people's only problem was with the wording. If deep down people had a problem with the premise, she said they should say so. Some of us have been in the Oireachtas a long time before Senator O'Reilly. I was in the Oireachtas before she was. I am open to correction, but on more than one occasion I stated clearly that what I would favour a change that would recognise the role of parents, be they men or women or fathers or mothers.

What we are seeing here is a very reductionist approach by the Government. There is a failure to distinguish between parenting and care. Parenting is about more than care. The duties of a mother or father in the home are about more than care. They are about education.