Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will lean in and speak a bit louder. One of the purposes of pre-legislative scrutiny is to ensure that we hear the voice of everyone who can contribute meaningfully to the creation of the legislation. What consultation has the Minister had with survivor groups and family groups before this? To reflect what Deputy Murnane O'Connor said, there is a need to be able to progress this as quickly as possible. The maximum level of consultation and engagement with those who have a direct interest in the legislation will, of course, help it to go through more smoothly and quicker. Related to this is communication with people who have been adopted. How is the Minister reaching them? How is the Minister speaking to them? In particular, how is the Minister overcoming the challenge where people may not be aware of their own family past, given the clandestine and illegal nature of some of the adoptions that took place?

Another issue I want to raise is funding and resources. As several Deputies have mentioned this, I will try to keep it brief. Will the Minister assure us that Tusla and the Adoption Authority will have the necessary resources? Throughout this process, concerns have been voiced by survivors and families on the difficulties they have had in engaging with the information and tracing section of Tusla. Has the Minister given consideration to a new agency that could take this on that would not come with the same emotional baggage or history of causing concerns among those who need the service most? This ties in with questions on resources.

I want to raise a question on counselling. We have spoken about counselling being available to survivors and adoptees. There are wider family members. We have seen many issues relating to mother and baby homes where family members, who may be brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins or uncles, did not know where their family members were or whether they were there at all. There are wider family members around the mother and child who were also heavily impacted by this. Are we making counselling available to these wider family members? What supports are we making available to fathers, where they are known?