Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin and, in particular, Deputy Funchion for facilitating the debate on this important matter. In May 2017, the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill was introduced in the Seanad. The debate on it focused on the competing rights of the desire of adoptees to have the knowledge of who they are and their background information and that of mothers to retain confidentiality regarding their own details. Of course, a balance had to be struck. The concern of adopted people - this is why Deputy Funchion is to be complimented - is that information on them is withheld. This obviously must be deemed to be wrong. Any person should be entitled to the information of where he or she came from and the who his or her people are.

There are all the other reasons, such as health issues, that could arise and why people might need to have necessary information. Of course, we have to be kind, considerate and respectful to the mothers who, at a particular time in their lives, were going through a difficult situation. We have to respect that. In trying to strike a balance in this debate, the one overriding measure that should be in place is the protection of an individual to know his or her background. That is a human, ordinary, fundamental thing that a person should have. Whatever way we as legislators can make amendments and changes to ensure those people get what they need, as well as the groups representing them, is important. That is why I support Deputy Funchion.

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