Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

That was a long time ago. I was teaching and was welcomed back, but the Senator can imagine all the fuss and the arrangements that had to be made following one birth and one adoption. At that time when one adopted a child through an adoption agency, one was encouraged to stay at home for a year in order to get to know the child and give it the care it required. It was not mandatory, but it was encouraged. I do not know whether that is still the case.

The Adoptive Leave Bill 2004 is a very good, modern Bill. It is certainly high on the equality agenda. I strongly approve of it and commend it to the House.