Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 8, to delete lines 13 to 15 and substitute the following: “(b) born in the State and placed for adoption outside the State and whose adoption was effected outside the State,”.

I will speak on amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, and then pass over to Deputy Cairns who will speak to amendments Nos. 70 to 76, inclusive.

Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 are quite similar. We want to ensure nobody is excluded. The amendments propose, in page 8, to delete lines 13 to 15 and substitute it with “born in the State and placed for adoption outside the State and whose adoption was effected outside the State”. Amendment No. 3 proposes to delete lines 13 to 15 and substitute it with “born in the State and placed for adoption outside the State”. We believe our language and wording are stronger and ensures nobody is excluded. We believe it is a wider definition and that the language in the Bill is too restrictive.

On amendments Nos. 4 and 5, which are in this grouping, we seek the insertion of "who was subject to an illegal birth registration", thereby calling it exactly what it is, an illegal birth registration, or in the case of amendment No. 5, an illegal adoption. It is important to use the correct language. I know that people who fall into that category feel very strongly about this and that it should be referenced as it was illegal. I will be making this point on a number of occasions, which is that the genuine reason for our amendments is to try to strengthen this legislation where we believe the language could be a lot stronger and more inclusive in parts, thereby ensuring that no records are left out of the process.