Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I do not think it is safe to argue there would not be a constitutional doubt about this area. I appreciate that the number of people who belong in this category may be small. The Government intends to put a referendum to the people that would clarify this situation for once and for all. There would be no doubt whatsoever. As Deputies Ó Caoláin and Shatter will know, the committee ordained that the heads of an adoption Bill would be published before a referendum would take place. Obviously, that will have to capture the kinds of issues that have been raised. It would be more appropriate to address the matter in that way than by means of a Report Stage amendment.

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