Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is referring to the Adoption Information (Post Adoption Contact and Associated Issues) Bill. The heads of the Bill have been approved and will be incorporated into a general adoption Bill which is due in mid-2006. The heads of the Bill have been approved by the Government and the Bill is currently being drafted. It is a fairly large Bill and its purpose is to ratify the convention on the protection of children to promote the creation of an adoption authority. It will not be ready until next year.

See this speech in context