James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I am delighted to speak on this very important Bill. It will be timely for many people lost in the wilderness waiting to adopt children, particularly those in other countries. There are a number of issues that must be addressed but which are not taken in by this Bill, one of which is the variation in waiting times around the country.

It is inexplicable and grossly unfair that people living in urban areas wait much longer than those in rural areas to have their assessments completed by social workers and psychologists. There is even variation between large urban areas, with waiting times much longer in Dublin than in Cork.

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