Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

Emotive contributions are a little unhelpful, given the sensitivity of this subject. It is not appropriate and gives an indication of some of the difficulties around this issue. I understand the desperation of parents who would like to have children. I know many brilliant parents who have adopted children, including my cousins and friends of mine, who are great people. There is no question of this. Nobody is questioning the bona fides of somebody who would like to adopt. However, we must also say that sometimes life is not fair and many people are faced with many challenges which, perhaps, cannot be overcome. There is a difference between the right to be adopted and the right to adopt. I am not against adoption if all of the other options have been absolutely and legitimately exploited and dealt with, but this does not mean somebody has the right to adopt just because of his or her circumstances. There is a difference.

The fact that children have come into this country and, as a result, become the children of loving parents in a happy family life does not take away from the fact that some of the practices have not been appropriate, and we as citizens must stand over best practice. The example has been given. We all know some of the people who were illegally adopted out of this country to the United States ended up with good parents who loved them. Of course they did, and that is not the issue. The issue is what happened later. Inevitably an adopted child will ask questions about his or her natural parents. Will the process be there to support the child in getting the information to which he or she is entitled? This is the problem - the legacy issues for the children at the centre of this. We must be incredibly careful.

People have different views on the ethics of this, but everyone agrees the Adoption Authority of Ireland is not working. I do that mean that personally against the witnesses, but it is a problem. How many staff does it have? How many functions are outsourced? There have been reports of people who were refused at the point of assessment as not suitable prospective parents who challenged this and went on to adopt, even though the assessment was negative. How is this process regulated? How many children who have come here from other countries have ended up in care? There is evidence that the number may be significant. I have not been able to get this information although I have sought it. There are issues with regard to information and tracing, but they are for another day.

The way in which prospective adoptive parents have been treated is terrible in terms of the financial costs, the uncertainty or stringing along, the heartache and the emotional path people must go down. These practices must be changed so that people know early exactly where they stand and what they are getting into.