CARDINAL SEÁN Brady was accused by David Norris (Ind) of displaying an arrogant, threatening and legalistic tone on the issue of civil partnership legislation. "To make a totem of marriage in the way that is being done is nothing other than blasphemous. I refer to the Gospels of Jesus Christ. When he was reprimanded by the Pharisees for breaking the Sabbath, he made the point that this was an institution made for man; that man was not made for the institution."
Mr Norris said he had not heard the whole interview with the prelate. "The reports on RTÉ showed an arrogant, threatening and legalistic tone, as he allied himself, tragically, with Karl Rove, George Bush, Robert Mugabe and Ian Paisley.
Acting Seanad leader Dan Boyle (GP) said the Archbishop, as a religious leader, had every right to express his views in terms of what he saw as ideals in society, but the Civil Partnership Bill was very much a part of the programme for government. In itself, the Bill represented a compromise between "both parties" in Government.
The Green Party's own position would be stronger than what the Bill was likely to bring into being, but it was a development in legislation that would cater for many people in our society who were in partnerships that were not of the predominant type of either religiously-recognised or heterosexual relationships.
"That represents a large number of people in our society for whom legislation and equal treatment in law needs to be provided. On that basis there will be a law and I am looking for positive contributions in the debate on the Bill when it comes before the House" added Mr Boyle.
An Independent member said he intended to bring forward a private members Bill which would seek to prohibit any creation of embryos for the purpose of research or any research involving or deriving from the destruction of human embryos. Ronan Mullen said there had been total inaction by the media in questioning the controversial decision by UCC on embryonic stem cell research.
He was withdrawing his recent request for a debate on the matter, because what was being offered was not good enough.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern rather than Minister for Health Mary Harney should be involved in the debate on whether embryo destructive research was to be allowed. To relegate this issue to just one element of a wider debate was to replicate the media's total inaction in questioning what UCC had done.
"There has been no media scrutiny at the lack of public consultation prior to the UCC decision . . . I am not aware that anybody has even asked the Government what they think of the UCC decision."
Ivana Bacik (Ind) said a good deal of misplaced concern had been expressed in the House about the protection of embryos in terms of embryonic stem-cell research. Members might reflect on the concern they should feel for people with degenerative diseases, and for whom research of this type could offer a real prospect of treatment for the future.
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Sotto Voce
(Source: IT)