Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is critical that effective practices, as the Deputy calls them, are in place. Clearly I would have preferred if there was continuity concerning the post of CEO. I have emphasised to the Adoption Authority on quite a number of occasions the importance of effective, high quality communication with people who contact them. They are a quasi-judicial body, so they are sometimes limited in terms of the responses they can give. Having said that, however, people in contact with the Adoption Authority are clearly in a stressful situation. They want to get as much information as is available and can be legally provided to them. I have emphasised to the Adoption Authority on more than one occasion how important that is and I believe they appreciate that. People who are dealing with the authority are obviously in high stress situations themselves while waiting for news. They are trying to obtain legal clarity and have decisions dealt with. On more than one occasion, I have raised the issues the Deputy mentioned here.

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