As we move through the period up to the referendum on 8 March for the thirty-ninth and fortieth amendments to the Constitution, it is vital and important that the public be protected from misinformation or disinformation. The women of Ireland can thank the Irish Countrywomen's Association and several other women's associations that led change in Ireland over the years. Many of those associations are now covered by the National Women's Council. It is a matter of grave concern to me that Orla O'Connor, director of the National Women's Council, writing in The Irish Times on 6 January stated the following:

Moving to the referendum on a woman’s place in society: a No vote here would be a truly retrograde step. It would say that we accept a Constitution that says a woman’s place is in the home. Article 41.2 may not hurt women directly-----

Can I remind the Senator that there will be debate on the referendums later this afternoon?

I appreciate that this is not the debate. She wrote:

Article 41.2 may not hurt women directly, but it frames our lives, our society and our value. It gives the State the oppressive role of keeping women from careers or employment of our own, ensuring “that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home”.

Ms Justice Denham addressed Article 41.2 in a ruling and she said that "... 41.2 does not assign women to a domestic role. Article 41.2 recognises the significant role-----"

The Senator is moving into the substantive debate and I do not want to have a row with him but, to be fair-----

No, no. It is important-----

I thank the Senator, hear me out.

Fire away.

There will be debate on the two referendum Bills later in the afternoon. This is the Order of Business. The Senator is straying into the substantive debate on the referendum and on the Bill.

I understand the Cathaoirleach's perception there-----

It is not a perception; it is the fact.

No, the fact here is that disinformation and misinformation are being spread by one of the agencies funded by this State, that is, the National Women's Council. She is directly-----

That is the Senator's opinion.

No. She is directly opposing what Ms Justice Denham said. Ms Justice Denham stated the recognition and acknowledgment does not exclude women and mothers from other roles and activities. We must be very straight. It is no secret I am opposed to the referendums.

That is fine.

We have to be very clear in the information we put into the public domain. Of all agencies, the National Women's Council that was founded-----

What is the Senator actually seeking in the Order of Business?

I am seeking a retraction by the National Women's Council of this scurrilous statement.

That is not a matter for the Order of Business, to be fair.

It is a matter for this House-----

Okay.

-----and the National Women's Council can hear it from here.

I thank the Senator. His time is up anyway.

Hang on a minute. The Cathaoirleach cut me off several times. Give a guy a break here.

In fairness, the Senator has been given a lot of latitude this morning.

Listen now. The year 1973, more than 50 years ago, was when the marriage ban disappeared, so let us be honest with people. Let us be straight. The judgment in the Supreme Court yesterday-----

I thank the Senator.

-----changed the rules regarding children. I will speak more this afternoon.

I appreciate that.

I love the way the Cathaoirleach cut me off, I really do, but these things are important. Accurate, clear information for the public is what is needed, not rhetoric.

I thank the Senator. I did not cut him off and I have no issue with his position on anything, as the Senator knows quite well. As for the rules of the House, he has been here for a long time now and I remind all Members that the time allotted is not to be necessarily aspired to. Members can reduce their contribution time as well, in some cases to get their videos in, but I appreciate Senator Craughwell's sincerity.