You may remember when the second stage debate on the Civil Partnership Bill began back in December, Lucinda Creighton, FG TD for Dublin South East, was not present when called on to speak. There has been extensive time given to the debate fortunately and yesterday Lucinda spoke and thanks to the wonders that is the internet and in case you missed it I thought you may wish to see it.
Lucinda has spoken at Iona Institute events and given interviews to the Irish Catholic expressing concern at rights being given to same sex relationships. She had also previously spoke in favour of people being able to object to providing services to or conducting civil partnership ceremonies. (She also differs greatly with her colleague Leo Varadkar on tax individualisation!)
But the speech yesterday indicates a change of heart on the issues or at least a change of language to appear reasonable but concerned? She knows a lot of gay couples who live a ‘normal fashion’ in their communities. However we’re not traditional (phew) and she likes and supports traditional families and wants the constitution to protect them. She doesn’t think people should be jailed for breaking the law either if they refuse to perform a civil partnership (there is similar legislation in place in relation to civil marriage) She even gives a shout out to noted liberal bishop Willie Walsh! Some in Iona and other groups will no doubt be tutting!
(If any other video fairies have footage of other TD’s speaking on the debate please get in touch!)
For an excellent summary of yesterday’s debate please head over to Human Rights in Ireland where Mairead has noted my tongue was firmly in my cheek re Leo’s dating needs. Fiona has also examined the issues regarding a conscience clause in another post today on HRinI.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=4301409c-0a11-4207-b2ee-a1b1f1631575)
Poor Leo, tut tut…
This clip came to mind (again much tongue in mouth)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7GJcKuVGm8
That speech, I suspect was delivered through gritted teeth, despite the various scenarios which the Deputy sets out.
Creighton represents Dublin 4/6. She must realise full well if she comes out with a gung-ho traditional catholic intrepretation of human rights and the law, she won’t get elected in that constituency. I feel she’s been backed into backing down by a combination of perturbed constituents and FG itself, who won’t want to be aligned with regressive positions like Iona Institutes.
As for the opt-out issue, for 11 years I played the organ in churches, and over the period was at about 200 weddings and 1000 funerals (yeah it was that many – sometimes 2 or even 3 in a day). It was not at all common to see families coming in expecting kid glove treatment despite not having darkened the door of a church for decades, for these and other occasions such as baptisms etc. It ws interesting to note that the church always backed down in every case. I never recall anybody being refused a funeral or a wedding merely because they hadn’t practiced as a catholic for about 40 years or more and quite obviously didn’t believe a word of it. Likewise catholic managed schools quite knowingly accept children who again are in non practicing families. Its hilarious how suddenly they want an opt out for deviants like ourselves. Why haven;t they stood up to non-catholic heteros exploiting their services?
Holy fuck is she for really – loss the plot when she banged on about that children of co-habiting couples are no lesser blah blah blah blah. She needs to come off her pedestal that most TD’s are on.