Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for his contribution today in finalising the legislation. It is indicative of the caring nature of all strands of Government, in which I include the Opposition, in seeking to provide everybody with an equal playing field on the issue of adoption. Adoptive parents can now achieve the same entitlements as parents of naturally born children. This reflects the caring nature of Irish society, and Irish people have been very Christian through the years in adopting children.

We know of many families who have had their own children and adopted children also. The trend is now to go abroad, and many children have come to this country and are in warm and loving family homes as a consequence. My own brother adopted two children and I had the pleasure a month ago of watching one of them walk down the aisle in a Galway church to get married. I reflected on how she had turned out and the wonderful life she has. Families involved in the adoption process from now on will have an easier passage in many ways.

We are also fulfilling promises in the Sustaining Progress programme, which is one of many promises that we have brought to fruition. We are also demonstrating that the Government is serious about the equality agenda.