Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 332:

In page 54, line 2, to delete “insofar as practicable” and substitute “make every effort to”.

This amendment advises the agency or the authority to make "every effort" to offer assistance and support, rather than just as far "as practicable". People feel it is staggering, after everything we know, that the lesser category of assistance and support is suitable.

Similarly, amendments Nos. 333 to 335, inclusive, are about ensuring that relevant people are provided with assistance rather than the lesser category of support. Adopted people and their relatives need help and the removal of barriers. That has been the paramount function of this Bill. Amendment No. 333 removes the paternalistic "as it considers appropriate" sentence. Adopted people should decide what is appropriate and necessary and not State bodies. Amendment No. 335 provides specifically for trained archivists to be involved in the process. They can provide the expertise that people need in accessing records and information. Amendment No. 336 removes a restriction on when counselling services can be offered. Amendment No. 337 ensures that.

We are coming to the end of this process. The whole purpose of this legislation is to provide unfettered access - the officials keep using that terminology - but after going through 300 amendments and not one of them being accepted, are we completely confident that people will get unfettered access to their information? We have discussed over and over again, at great length, why people do not feel that will happen. One reason is distrust of State agencies and bodies, and people's experience for decades of being treated in that way. A second reason is that they had very many concerns about the specific language in this Bill and none of the amendments dealing with that have been accepted. As we come to a close, reassurance that people will have that unfettered access is appropriate.