Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

We would not have moved forward if this provision had tried to protect one religion over another. It does not. It is simply a reflection that for many people, religion is very important. As a State, we accept that. I do not believe ethnicity is as important and it would be wrong for the State to support that. I do not believe one's race is as important and that the State should serve to protect that in its policies. However, if a person is very religious, he or she is entitled to the protection and recognition of his or her religious views in State policy from time to time. A person is entitled to protection to be allowed to practise his or her religion in all its forms. I do not believe anybody in this Chamber would dispute that.

Rather than block adoptions, this tries to ensure consent is fully informed. If a person has no objection, the child could be adopted by a family of a different faith. The person could waive any objection to that. It is simply to protect against any difficulties which might arise later on. If one has a daughter and is placing her for adoption into a religion which might not be as favourable towards women as other religions, one may wish to reflect on that at the time of placement for adoption. It would be too late afterwards if we did not allow that to happen. Those are the considerations contemplated.

I accept that in 1974, when this was included, they were not the considerations and that there were others. They were afraid of proselytising, conversion and those types of things but we have moved on and we do not favour one religion over another. However, we insist that a person's right to practise his or her faith should be reflected from time to time. I would not compare it to a person's right to the protection of race or ethnicity.