Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Dr. Shannon and thank him for his presentation. His opening statement brings home the fact that this is a quite complex and sensitive matter. This is legislation for which people have waited for a long time. Every person is entitled to know his identity and health status or health footprint.

While respecting the rights of the birth parents, the State has an overriding responsibility to ensure the adopted person has full information on where he or she has come from and his or her health status. I understand there must be some constraint but our job, as legislators, is to minimise constraint and maximise the information that can be made available.

I have a few points on which I wish to seek clarification, if possible. I refer to the compelling reasons not to disclose information and the assessment of these. How is the decision made and who actually makes it? Will the appeals process involve civil procedures, which could be beyond the means of the vast majority of people? Who will cover the cost of the appeals? If Dr. Shannon expects a legal challenge to the Bill, on what grounds does he fear it will be made?