Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The record may show something different. Let us not get stuck on this issue. While I apologise if I have provoked Senators, I acknowledge the hard work being done in my office on this issue.

We are determined to secure a bilateral agreement with Russia before the Bill is enacted. We cannot guarantee this outcome will be achieved and it would be dishonest of me to suggest we will do so because we are dealing with a sovereign third country which will make its own decision on whether to sign a bilateral agreement.

I advise the couple who texted Senator Healy Eames to have faith for the moment and continue to deal with the country from which they propose to adopt a child. The last thing we want is people to go to countries where Ireland does not have a track record, has no experience and has not, therefore, obtained safeguards. We need to be careful in our choice of terminology and language because this is an extremely sensitive issue for prospective parents. While there will be turbulence in this time of change in regard to adoption in Ireland, we do not want people to panic and seek alternatives. Instead, we ask them to stay the course in this difficult and uncertain period.

The Department does not lack resources and it certainly does not lack determination. We are working extremely well with the agencies on the ground in third countries and representative groups here. I hope we will be able in the near future to assuage the fears about which we have heard.