Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This has been the most emotional presentation that I have ever been present for. I am struck by the level of healing that Féileacáin is offering people at a time of grief when, as Deputy Neville said, there is no other outward sign of the acknowledgment of the parents' huge loss.

We do funerals well in Ireland. We go through a process which helps people deal with their bereavement. I see that Féileacáin is trying to offer that acknowledgement to the parents of the stillbirth or neonatal death. Chairman, we have many problems but I think that together we should be able to resolve this one easily. It is about will, as others have said. I would be supportive of the Baby Loss Awareness Day and the remembrance day on 15 October.

I am struck by the numbers of people that Féileacáin helps. It states that 500 babies die around the time of birth every year, and that affects a great many people. This is a very real issue in many people's lives. Féileacáin mentioned that it provides support for the survivors of symphysiotomy. This committee has heard presentations from parents who have received a diagnosis of a foetus with fatal foetal abnormality. I wondered if such parents have come to Féileacáin.

There is a strong lobby growing for perinatal care and the provision of a perinatal hospice, not so much a place but as a way of caring for the pregnant mother, the father and the family with dignity and compassion. What are the views of the witnesses on that because the lobbying is for State support for those parents?

The issue of closed registration was raised. I think we have an opportunity to help on this issue. As Deputy Conway said, the Civil Registration Bill (Amendment) Bill 2014 is going through the Dáil at present. There is a glitch around the closed register for adoption. In 2010, the Adoption Act was passed. Up to that time the parents of a child who was adopted would get a birth certificate from the adopted child's register. However, under the provisions of the Adoption Act 2010, the adoption of the child is now hidden. Let me explain. I am an adoptive parent and the birth certificate of an adopted child since the enactment of the recent Act would look such that the adoptive parent is the natural parent of the child. I and others would not agree with that. The Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection is putting this aspect out to a consultation process. I think it would be opportune to submit a case to the Minister on the issue of the consultation process for the registration of births and stillbirths. There might be an opening to deal with it in the Bill at present. I am not fully sure but it would be worthwhile to pursue aspect.

I compliment the witnesses from Féileacáin and ask them to respond to some of these questions.