Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The circumstance Deputy Shatter has raised is not adoption. It is described in the various annual reports of the Adoption Board and is a situation in which the rights of the natural father are not extinguished, which is how we understand adoption in this country. The Deputy is seeking another legal mechanism and while I do not disagree with the view of the Adoption Board in this matter, this is not appropriate legislation for introducing such a mechanism. This Bill relates to adoption, which is understood in Ireland to be the extinguishment of the legal rights of natural parents in circumstances in which adoption is effected. While I agree with the Deputy's general sentiments, it is wrong to assume that this legislation is the correct vehicle to make the proposed change.

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