We have a new Minister for State with Responsibility for Equality. Sean Power’s name rang a bell. I remember his speech during decriminalistion. Then a FF backbencher he was one of the very few backbench TD’s to make a speech during the debate – and I remember those of us watching it being very struck by it and the way in which he was very human and very real about the issues under debate. This was 14 years ago – it was not easy to make that speech from his side of the house. The only reason he pitied homosexuals was because we were not seen as equal – because our loving relationships were not recognised like his loving relationship was.

So is this a taste of things to come? Will we see recognition of non marital relationships? More staff for the Equality Tribunal to prosecute cases? Minister Power in his former role in the Department of Health only last week opened a conference on HIV and AIDs and Gay and Bisexual Men. So he’s got a good track record. Watch this space!

Mr. Power: The Bill deals with an issue that has engendered much debate over the past few years. Indeed, many people will feel a certain amount of relief that the issue will shortly be removed from the agenda. The very word homosexual is one that people are embarrassed to use but if we could only accept that homosexuals are ordinary people living among us, a more purposeful and meaningful debate would have taken place over recent years.

Homosexuals are real human beings and not just people who live elsewhere. They live in every village and town in Ireland and, regretfully, such has been the hostility and contempt shown to them that they have been very reluctant to reveal their homosexuality.

I attended my first disco as a teenager and, like thousands of other young men throughout the country, I went in the hope of meeting some understanding female.

Mrs. Owen: Did you?

Mr. Power: It took a long time before they understood me and I never enjoyed the same amount of success as some of my colleagues.

Mrs. Owen: That is a shame.

Mr. Power: Nevertheless, I enjoyed my teenage years, the parties, discos and dances. Female company is a wonderful thing. I enjoyed the craic and all that goes with being single. In 1986 I married Deirdre Malone and during the past seven years I enjoyed a very fulfilling relationship with her. It has made me a more complete person and, indeed, a much happier one.

I make this point to demonstrate that we are in the same position as thousands of other couples throughout the country and this is accepted as being normal. By definition homosexuals are people who are sexually attracted to members of the same sex. For some reason they do not feel the same urge to form a relationship with someone of the opposite sex. We all need to love and to be loved. I pity homosexuals because they cannot share the same type of relationship as the one I enjoy. In most cases their relationships have to be conducted in a very secretive fashion. If found out, they face rejection by society and in some cases by their families. For too long we have made jokes about homosexuals instead of trying to understand them. The time has come for people to show tolerance, compassion and understanding to all our people. It is vital for a Government to lead its people and the introduction of this Bill is welcome.

The Bill makes it an offence to solicit or importune another person or persons for the purposes of prostitution. The penalty on summary conviction will be a fine of up to £1,000 or three months’ imprisonment, or both. It has been argued that the present laws in relation to prostitution have been rendered inoperable by the courts and, therefore, changes are necessary. If these new laws are to work properly there will have to be a number of significant changes. If we were to jail all the ladies who provide sex to men for money in this city there would be no room in our prisons for the real criminals. Full sex is provided in many health clubs and massage parlours throughout our capital city, a fact we have chosen to ignore.

A few weeks ago I supported the Minister for Health when he successfully brought a Bill before this House to make condoms more freely available. The Minister laid great emphasis on the fact that he was bringing forward his proposals in an effort to prevent the spread of AIDS. Surely we must be consistent. If we are serious about fighting this dreadful disease action must be taken now. I know that a number of people outside this House today vented their anger and disgust at the introduction of this Bill, but I ask them if they really believe that people who engage in homosexual acts are criminals.