SEANAD REPORT:DEFENDING HIS stance on the proposed civil partnership legislation, Jim Walsh (FF) said that while an article in The Irish Times had had "a terrible heading" he believed that the republican ethos that was engendered in the House, and particularly in his party, would ensure that marginalised people in society need have no fears that their issues would be addressed.
In doing this there was no need to, and it must not happen, that they needed to redefine marriage from its intrinsically heterosexual nature, which was for the propagation of society and the welfare of children, into one which was purely for an adult sexual relationship. That was essential and important.
Fine Gael leader in the House Frances Fitzgerald said: “Those are totally unacceptable comments.”
Dominic Hannigan (Labour) said he welcomed the announcement from Fianna Fáil that it would slap down the motion from Senator Walsh. “It shows they are not all dinosaurs and we must recognise that.”
Referring to concern expressed by the Director of Public Prosecutions about the difficulty in prosecuting under-age sex cases, Frances Fitzgerald (FG) said she was concerned that the Government was not clear as to whether the appropriate approach in terms of protection was by a constitutional amendment on children’s rights or by legislation.
It was essential to know what line the Government was taking. “Will it proceed with an amendment or has it got cold feet following the experience with the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty?”
Alex White (Labour) said this was classically not an area for emergency legislation.