Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. To be perfectly clear, it would be a major policy change to introduce what the Deputy is proposing. Such a policy change would require careful consideration, legal advice and Government approval. Applications for adoption where the child is 16 years or older are prioritised by both Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland. The Department has not received any requests from either the Adoption Authority of Ireland or the Child and Family Agency in that regard. I do not intend to accept the amendment.

At this stage of our exchange it seems to me that the Deputy is identifying that if the adoption process is some way delayed there ought to be some consideration in terms of adoption for a person over 18, as distinct from all of the other reasons he identified initially. Is that correct?