Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I support Deputy Shatter's argument. This Bill is supposed to be in the best interests of the child but serious confusion still arises in regard to children who are being adopted by their natural mothers and their relationship with their adoptive and natural fathers. In many ways society is ahead of the proposals in this legislation. We must be frank and honest in giving information to children on these matters. By accepting the amendments proposed by Deputy Shatter the Minister of State would offer more clarity to young people in regard to the identity of their natural parents and their relationships to subsequent partners.

I am reminded of a recent article by John Waters in The Irish Times which told the story of a young couple. The girl's mother became extremely shocked when told the identity of the boy. It turned out that the boy's father was probably also the girl's natural father. We must face up to these realities with this Bill. The amendments I have tabled on the natural father of children in the adoption process are also relevant to this issue.

We probably will not be revisiting these issues for quite some time, even though the Minister of State has indicated his intention to introduce another Bill to deal with post-adoption information, tracing and birth certificates. In my opinion these matters should be provided for in the Bill before us because it is important that we get clarity on them in the context of modern society as opposed to the past when all these stories were hidden and families did not speak to their children about them. It is important that we reflect the fact that we live in a different world when we pass legislation in this House. In that context I ask the Minister of State to take Deputy Shatter's amendments seriously.

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