Eileen Flynn (Independent)

It is regrettable that the Minister of State will oppose this legislation. I was speaking to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, yesterday evening and his words to me were, "You kept this Bill alive, you kept pushing and I expect you to nothing more when we have it in the Dáil". My wee girl was 12 weeks old when I come back from maternity leave. My then parliamentary assistant, Jessica Bray, and I sat down and decided this was extremely important legislation. The then Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, said it was not possible for us to change the words in the history books, and we totally accepted that. Speaking to the media yesterday, I asked why the Government was looking to reinvent the wheel and taking and owning the Civil Engagement Group's legislation. I am a member of the Traveller Community and somebody who wants to be a productive, progressive legislator in this House. It is a shame and a pity that my work is being taken. I appreciate and am grateful that it is being put into effect but I want to put on record that this came about from the good work of Jessica Bray, Corey O'Hara and Senators Black, Ruane and Higgins.

The Civil Engagement Group cares about this very much. We know that language can have a dramatic impact on any victim, especially someone from the Traveller Community. The Government's position is regrettable. I ask the Minister of State, if at all possible, to abstain in today's vote to allow my Bill to pass through the Houses and allow us to support the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, in bringing the Bill forward in the Dáil. Our two amendments are very simple. They propose to change the term "child pornography" to "child sexual abuse material”. As a mother of two young children, I would love for my two girls to look back and say, "Mammy was part of changing this" as part of the Civil Engagement Group.It is just like the occupied territories Bill and other important legislation that the Civil Engagement Group has brought forward. For many years, the Government has taken it as its own. I will support the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, in bringing this important legislation through. As a person who has worked really hard with colleagues over the last three and a half years, it is really important that I say this today. As Catherine Connolly rightly said in her campaign, it is very hard for women to stand up and own something. This is our legislation that the Government is taking as its own.