A SIGNIFICANT difference of opnion has developed between Co. Wexford's Fianna Fail Senators Jim Walsh and Lisa McDonald with Ms. McDonald criticising her colleague over his stance on gay and lesbian civil partnership rights.

Senator Jim Walsh last week put forward a motion demanding that nothing should be done in the upcoming Civil Partnership Bill that would in any way lessen the special status' enjoyed by heterosexual marriage under the Constitution.

But fellow Fianna Fail Senator Lisa McDonald said she was under 35 and there's not many of that demographic up in the Dáil and Seanad'.

(Senator Walsh's motion) wouldn't be as easily understood as it would be for someone of Jim's generation,' she said.

There's an awful lot of homophobic attitudes and fears in our society, among older people particularly,' said Senator McDonald.

The Civil Partnership Bill would give gay and lesbian couples greater rights and control over pensions, inheritance and tax, but it would not allow same-sex couples to adopt.

According to the Irish Times last weekend between a dozen and 30 members of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party had signed Senator Walsh's motion.

However, Senator Walsh's Wexford colleague, Senator Lisa McDonald was not one of those and said she does not support her New Ross colleague's motion, citing a generation gap between the two of them.

The Irish Times claimed that Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators are seeking to reverse the Government's decision to allow gay and lesbian couples register their relationships with the State, however Senator Walsh in a statement denied this.

The motion, which it's believed would have considerable support from the more conservative sections of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party, was due to be discussed at last (Tuesday) night's meeting of the Parliamentary Party.

It is not my intention to enter into public debate on the motion prior to our Parliamentary Party meeting,' said Senator Walsh.

I can say that the Minister in publishing the Heads of a Civil Partnership Bill invited debate and a response from all interested persons. I would hope that no one would suggest that the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party would somehow be excluded from this process,' said Senator Walsh.

The Motion fully accepts and acknowledges the need to address relevant issues pertaining to these relationships, but calls for the continuation of supports for marriage which are both unique and special, in accordance with the Constitutional requirement,' said Senator Walsh.

Senator McDonald, who does not support the Motion, said that gay and lesbian people deserve equality.

I'm very much of the live and let live variety... this bill will bring us another step forward,' she said, adding that full civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples will need to be done in a piecemeal fashion in Ireland, unlike Spain, where it was introduced under one bill.

Val Walsh of the Wexford-based EAGLE (Equality Alliance of Gays and Lesbians in Eire) slammed Senator Walsh's motion.

Jim Walsh is an out-of-touch politician and we feel his motion is homophobic, juvenile, political grandstanding. The petition is discriminatory and we're not going to stand for it,' said Val.

However, he does agree with Senator Walsh in one respect neither are in favour of the Civil Partnership Bill. I don't think the bill goes far enough, Jim Walsh thinks it goes too far,' said Val, who feels the bill is unconstitutional and discriminatory'.

Val Walsh said that gay and lesbian couples should be able to avail of full civil marriages, as they can in Holland and Spain. Nothing less is appropriate in this day and age,' he said.