Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for their presentations and the work they put into them. These presentations were not prepared in a short period. I thank each one of them for their efforts in setting out in writing the issues they see in the draft legislation. I wish to touch on one or two issues. The first is the issue of 14 days being an inadequate time in which to bring an appeal. What do the people who raised that issue feel is an appropriate length of time? I agree that 14 days is a very short period. It would be helpful to get some indication of their views on the time to be allowed for appeals.

The second issue is how far on we have moved. This is a huge step to take. People have referred to the fact that this issue was being discussed in 1997 but has moved on very little since. What is happening now is welcome but it is important that it is carried through fully and that the legislation is passed. On what went on previously, I came across people as recently as four years ago who had been put into foster care. They had not been adopted. One of them was 71 and the other 79 years of age before they met again. The unfortunate thing about it was that I knew both of them for more than 30 years. I knew them but they did not know each other. I think the reason they never met was that one was very involved in Fianna Fáil and the other in Fine Gael. That story is true. They met because one of their daughters carried out research on her mother's background and found her sister who is now aged 79. This case involved foster care and not adoption.

I wish to touch on the issue of illegal adoptions and incorrect information being provided in hospitals. I have raised the issue previously. We still have a scenario in some hospitals - not all - where proof of identity is not required. That was the major issue with illegal adoptions. Incorrect information was provided in the hospitals where the delivery took place. Records were filled in with incorrect information. A question now arises. There must be people who knew the information on the child they delivered is incorrect. There must be people who want to move forward and find out where their son or daughter is. We need to provide them with information. Some of the delegates may wish to comment on that issue.

I agree that for every legal adoption there were many illegal adoptions. As I said to some members of the panel during the break, I know of some of these which occurred as recently as the early 1990s. This illegal activity was going on not that long ago. It is important to try to address the issue and give every possible level of support to the natural parents and those who were adopted. It is important we get this right and that we achieve the right balance. The delegates' contributions are helping us to come to a decision on the issue.

I have a very broad question on whether we are doing enough at this stage. Do people feel a lot more could be done to try to help people at this stage? People have raised the issue of funding. Should we be doing a lot more than we are and how do we properly structure it in order that adequate funding is given to assist these people? That is the final issue I wished to raise. I thank the delegates again for the very detailed contributions they made.