Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children

General Scheme of Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed)

9:30 am

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputies Peter Fitzpatrick, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Billy Kelleher, Regina Doherty, Seamus Healy and Ciara Conway and Senator Imelda Henry.

I remind witnesses, members and those in the Visitors Gallery that it would be appreciated if mobile phones were turned off or left in airplane mode as they interfere with the broadcasting of the meeting.

I thank members for their attendance at and participation yesterday in the vigil that we held to mark International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I acknowledge that we were joined by a number of representatives of Féileacáin, but I also thank and acknowledge the support of Mr. Brian Roche, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and a number of others, including specialist nursing staff, who were unable to be with us on 15 October. I thank them for their participation. I thank Deputy Sandra McLellan for her proposal and the secretariat, staff and members of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges for allowing us to organise what was a nice ceremony. I hope members, no matter who will be here in the future, will be the custodians of the event which was enhanced by the presence of a lovely little baby, which added to the occasion.

We resume our pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2015 at the request of the Department. This significant and important Bill is long overdue and deals with a sensitive issue. I thank all delegates for giving of their time to be with us. I thank them in advance for their presentations and the work put into them. I also welcome those in the Visitors Gallery and thank them for being here.

This is our final meeting in the pre-legislative scrutiny process. It is an opportunity to hear from a different set of delegates with different viewpoints, including adoptive parents, birth mothers, birth parents, foster parents, adoption agencies and other interested parties.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

This will, we hope, be a positive opportunity for delegates to have their voices heard. They are most welcome. I will begin by asking Ms Helen Gilmartin from the Adoptive Parents Association of Ireland to make her opening remarks.

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