Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to all our guests but a debate on the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014 is about the start in two or three minutes in the Dáil and I must cover that legislation. I join the Chairman and my colleagues on the committee in welcoming each of the witnesses here. It has been very helpful. Indeed the witnesses' print submissions are very useful references for all of us working in these areas. I thank the witnesses sincerely for that.

I have a small number of questions. There is a clear distinction between some of the voices here this morning concerning intercountry adoption outside of Hague Convention sign-offs. I note that the Children's Rights Alliance expresses caution in this regard. Could Ms Corbett elaborate on that? I apologise that I will not be able to remain here to hear what she has to say, but I will pick it up in the transcript of the meeting subsequently. I feel it is a very important area. There is no question that we all understand and accept that this is about the child first and foremost. That said, there are many prospective parents in Ireland whose hearts are broken because they have not been able to fulfil a personal and shared ambition to become adoptive parents. That is a reality we cannot ignore.

In its submission, the Children's Rights Alliance said that it urged caution in respect of the consideration of entering into bilateral agreements with countries that are not compliant with the Hague Convention given child protection concerns. I can understand that but I will only try to open it up a bit because what better protections might some of these children have than to be placed in the care of parents who have gone through the very rigorous assessment process we have here and who tick the boxes in terms of what is expected and what must be provided?

There is a pending commission of investigation into mother and baby homes and similar institutions. We do not yet have a definitive list but I certainly do not want to stop at mother and baby homes in terms of someone's idea that this is what it is all about. It is about an awful lot more. We want to see terms of reference that will address this in a very holistic way. It needs to be done. The Children's Rights Alliance mentioned adoptions that never actually took place but where the child's birth was unlawfully registered. I can only second-guess what the alliance is saying here but could Ms Corbett elaborate on it in order that we fully understand what she referred to?

I thank Ms Lohan and Ms Byrne for their contribution. We have the Adoption Authority of Ireland here with us. I am very mindful of the terms of reference of the commission of investigation. The Adoption Rights Alliance's submission referred to "a delay largely caused by the deliberate obstruction of a registered adoption agency, never sanctioned by the Adoption Board/Adoption Authority despite years of complaints against them". It is a question for the Adoption Authority of Ireland. I have no doubt that we are looking at historic situations here. There is not a finger of accusation as to contemporary practice but this is part of the story that must now be told and exposed. I invite witnesses to elaborate on that because these things can be missed. I noted the meeting with the Minister yesterday but things can be missed and if we do not get the terms of reference right, this project will fail in completing its job of work. Would speakers from the Adoption Authority of Ireland like to comment on whether they accept or believe that this point merits historic investigation? I appreciate that the clock has beaten me and I apologise to the rest of the attendees. I am sure my colleagues will pick up on other questions. I apologise but I must leave.