David Norris (Independent)

I welcome very much what the Minister has said, his gracious manner of doing it and the significant additional information he has placed before the Oireachtas. For that reason, I believe it was worthwhile tabling the amendment. I have been here the entire day for recommendation after recommendation, as has the Minister. From my point of view, and some of my colleagues agree, in terms of its practical effect, the Minister's announcement that this will be capable of retrospection and will have legal effect because of the words the Minister has uttered in Seanad Éireann today makes this the most important contribution in the entire debate because it will actually have an effect, even though my amendment will fail. I am not worried by that because the sense of it has been strongly endorsed by all sides of this House, although not unanimously. That is very important and I thank the Minister very much for it.

I do not believe it will be necessary to call a vote on this recommendation as it would be futile because the vote would be lost. I do not believe in pyrrhic victories. We have won the most important moral victory here today.