James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Everybody in this room will know that the Tánaiste has a particular interest in this area as well for obvious reasons as does others like Deputy Anne Ferris. I reiterate what I have said before. I want to make the issue of people having access to information on their adoption and identity as easy as possible but within the law. I want to put as much help around that as possible in order to get the outcome that we would all like to see. However, I cannot ignore the right of a birth mother to privacy if she so demands. In many instances that is not the case and instead it is a lack of information. I take the opportunity to thank the Members for raising the matter again. I want to highlight the fact that we now have an adoption agency that is only too willing and able to provide help. People may not be aware that we live in different times. People who were told they had no right to seek information should revisit the situation.

Senator van Turnhout acknowledged the fact that she is chair of Early Childhood Ireland which we welcome. She asked us to look at the flexibility of the various programmes and whether a risk impact analysis had been carried out on the inspection regime. I have a note on the matter. The Department of Education and Skills is working closely with Pobal and Tusla to reduce the impact on services. Both Pobal and Tusla have tried to minimise the impact of visits by setting out clearly what is required. The impact of regulation will be kept under continuous review. We would all agree here that we need regulation because that is where protection starts. If there is no regulation then it is very difficult to protect children and ensure that the services they are being offered are safe and appropriate.

The Senator raised the issue of vetting. My Department will look at the matter as well. There has been no change however.