Ms Gillian Keegan:

We are here to represent the voice of patients and we have done that for 30 years. The co-founder of the organisation, Ms Helen Browne, was part of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction. She was unable to have a child unfortunately. We are dealing with the situation as it is. People who come to our meetings are considering different options to see how they will deal with them. As an organisation we did the first family conversations event concerned with starting a conversation with our children. Ours is a small organisation with little funding that relies on volunteers. Only one person works part time for us. We are trying to do the best we can to provide what support we can.

I take on board what everybody has said here today. I am not claiming to be an expert. Dr. Rose has her viewpoint and there are also psychological and legal aspects. There was commodification in the adoption process some decades ago. Perhaps we can learn from that when the legislation is being drawn up. Is the process in Ireland and England when a child is adopted dealt with in an appropriate way in respect of the child coming to terms with that situation? I am trying to understand. Is there something we can do? My feeling about all of this is that there is a major element of emotion regardless of whether we are referring to donor conception or adoption. A couple who adopted a child ten years ago may also have to deal with these issues as the child grows up. Is there anything we might learn from that situation?