Feargal Quinn (Independent)

The objective of these amendments, particularly in the case of adopting siblings, is worthy, one with which I am sure the Minister of State agrees. It may well be that the words used, technically, are not quite correct for the legislation. I do not know why as they seem fine to me. If the Minister of State is unable to accept the amendments as they are, it is possible to achieve the same objective by changing the text to address his concerns.

I was not aware, until Senator Healy Eames stated it, that 78% of adoptions are from non-Hague Convention countries. It concerns me a great deal because I assumed adoptions from Russia, Vietnam and Ethiopia were exceptions. I hope the Minister of State will accept these worthy amendments in some form or other.