Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. Clearly, a great deal of thought has been given to this, which I welcome. The steps she and the Department are committed to taking are also welcome. However, this does not necessarily deal with the broader question of people for whom it was not a cause of delay but ultimately who found, just after their 18th birthday, that this potential avenue was closed to them. I refer primarily to delay. While I recognise it is not an issue at the moment, the number of 17-year-olds on behalf of whom applications are being made is relatively small but that might not always remain the case. Adoption numbers generally are relatively low in this country, albeit there will be an increase following the passage of the legislation. However, we do not draft legislation on the basis that everything has worked fine so far. If somebody who, despite every effort, found the clock had run out, there would be no recourse for him or her. All the timelines, guidelines, instructions and directives to everyone involved in the process would be no addition to that person. If the Minister does not accept the amendment, I ask her, beyond whatever instructions she intends to give to the authorities responsible, to commence some form of consultation or discussion within the Department and the agencies to consider whether a change in policy is required. The policy I propose exists in other countries. There is not even a maximum age in France. I do not necessarily advocate that but I ask the Minister to consider whether a change in policy might be necessary.

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