Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not take long. I thank the witnesses for their presentations. From reading them yesterday, it is clear that everyone is on the same wavelength and believes that the child comes first. Rightly so, and no one present would disagree. This is a matter of finding homes for children in extreme circumstances, their rights and their needs. In my humble opinion, no child should ever be taken away for adoption without the consent of the maternal parents or extended families. No person who seeks to adopt a child would have it any other way. I have personal experience in this regard. I have seen the love and care given by many people I know, including family, friends and neighbours, who have adopted children from home and abroad and the great good that comes from those adoptions, not only for the children, but for the people who adopt them as well. As a woman, the greatest gift I have ever been given was being able to give birth to my children. Sadly, this was not possible for some among my family and friends. People have a hunger for families of their own at some stage. Being human, we try our best to ensure that everything we do works out right for our children.

According to the Children's Rights Alliance's material, practice varies across the country and some families are not entitled to foster while seeking adoptions. Why is this the case? The provision preventing people in civil partnerships from adopting should be reversed.

I will keep my next question short, as much time has passed and many questions have been asked. It is for Mr. Gildea. His document reads: "Ireland had a disproportionately high level of private independent adoptions". Will he expand on this point? I was not able to make sense of it.

I thank the witnesses for their time and patience, particularly when we had to run up and down the stairs. We do not like that either.