What I've been saying

Ba bhreá liom i dtosach báire fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit. Is minic a deirtear faoi saol na parlaiminte gur rud fíor-thábhachtach é go mbeadh daoine ann le scileanna agus taithí difriúla ar gnéithe den tsaoil. Is cinnte gur maith an rud é go bhfuil duine ar nós an Aire Stáit freagrach as an réimse seo, mar níl aon amhras nach amháin go bhfuil an suim aige ins an ábhar ach go bhfuil an t-eolas agus an cur chuige aige freisin agus tréisigh mé leis de bharr sin.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an tAire Stáit. Níl mórán le rá agam. Is maith an rud é go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo againn inniu. Bheinn buartha dá mbeimid ag cur iomarca béime ar ghnéithe an tuarascála atá fágtha ar lár. Tá línte ag dul tríd na hailt sin. Tá contúirt ann go gcaithfimid iomarca ama ag caint faoi ceisteanna a bhaineann le cursaí dlí. Sa chás sin, b’fhéidir go ndéanfaimid neamhaird ar na buncheisteanna atá ardaithe i tuairisc Móin na gCaor. I mo thuairim, is é an rud is tábhachtaí a léiríonn an tuairisc ná gur theip ar an Stát cloí le fealsúnacht agus moltaí treoirlínte Children First. Is é sin bun agus barr an scéal. Theip ar an Stát é sin a dhéanamh.

Speaking at the annual John Paul II conference being held at Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, Senator Rónán Mullen said that Irish society is facing into two important ethical issues over the coming weeks. Referring to the proposed Civil Partnership Bill, Senator Mullen described it as containing a triple injustice. “Neither care-givers not siblings will receive protection from this Bill, simply because theirs is a strictly Platonic relationship” stated Senator Mullen. He went on to say, “This Bill downgrades the special status of marriage by offering its benefits to other forms of relationships. This means that same-sex couples receive the same reward as the average married couple with children, even though the only reason for the reward in the first place is to aid the upbringing of children.”

Speaking at the annual John Paul II conference being held at Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, Senator Rónán Mullen said that Irish society is facing into two important ethical issues over the coming weeks. Referring to the proposed Civil Partnership Bill, Senator Mullen described it as containing a triple injustice. “Neither care-givers not siblings will receive protection from this Bill, simply because theirs is a strictly Platonic relationship” stated Senator Mullen. He went on to say, “This Bill downgrades the special status of marriage by offering its benefits to other forms of relationships. This means that same-sex couples receive the same reward as the average married couple with children, even though the only reason for the reward in the first place is to aid the upbringing of children.”

But what we find on this issue is in fact a clash of rights. Those who rightly favour rights for persons who are attracted to persons of the same sex, or people who feel they are of a different gender to that they were born with, want to eliminate all discrimination. But discrimination, to be unjust and intolerable, must lack any reasonable or objective basis. There is a right, which I fear the Rapporteur and committee have lost sight of, which is the right of people to have differing moral views about relationships between people of the same sex.

Senators Rónán Mullen and Fidelma Healy Eames have called on the government to keep its promise to fund a much needed gym for Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew, Co. Galway. The Senators, both past pupils of the college, pointed out that the school was promised funding in 2000.