Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I support the points made by Senator White. Most of us approach this Bill from the perspective of the representations and constituency queries we receive on this issue. The concern raised most frequently by my constituents is the issue of the delay in assessment. I appreciate that in all legislation governing adoption we must be absolutely precise about the propriety of every part of the process. A certain degree of delay is necessary in order to allow all parties sufficient time to reflect and deliberate. However, the prospect of a waiting time of two and a half or three years is of serious concern to prospective adoptive parents. As Senator White observed, couples fortunate enough to adopt two or three children may be involved in the administrative process for ten or 15 years.

An acceptance that we must process applications as thoroughly and professionally as possible does not mean that we should not seek to remove some of the administrative road blocks. In this regard, the proposal that agencies other than the Health Service Executive should be allowed to manage the process is worthy of consideration. This legislation will put in place the strictest rules and regulations regarding the propriety of prospective parents. The process will be very thorough and everybody will be properly vetted. That is welcome and necessary. However, it should not be beyond the bounds of possibility that other agencies, other than the Health Service Executive, could have a direct role in assessment, thus expediting the application process and reducing the backlog. From my layman's perspective, this seems to be the issue of most concern to people. I have spoken to couples who want desperately to adopt a child but are faced not only with a wall of bureaucracy but also with an apparently endless delay. Accredited agencies which are obliged to comply with all the rules and regulations could play a constructive role in this regard. I hope the Minister of State will respond positively or will at least ensure that delays are reduced to the greatest possible and practicable extent.