Alex White (Labour)

I move amendment No. 52:

In page 65, subsection (1), between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:

"(d) promoting the development of post adoption services;".

The Minister of State anticipated this amendment in his remarks on the previous one. As I understand the Government's position, it is not necessary or it may be too soon to include in legislation provisions on the development of post-adoption services.

We want this legislation not only to codify the law but, as I stated earlier, to be the "Bible" of or central important document in our adoption law and adoption practice. I am not convinced that from the point of view of legislation we can turn our backs on the importance of post-adoption services. The case for the importance of adoption services has been made repeatedly.

I repeat the point I made on tracing. Whereas I understand the reluctance to set out in any kind of detail in legislation what the correct services and best practices ought to be because that is not a matter for legislation, it seems the necessity of post-adoption services and the role of the authority in promoting the development of post-adoption services is a sufficiently clear and important statement of intent by the Legislature that this is an activity which we wish to see happening, which we will promote and which people can expect will be a core activity of our adoption services.

I am a little disappointed at the attitude, which appears to be that that is for later on. It is not for later on. If it will be important in two or five years' time, it is important now.

Nothing in the amendment that my party proposes ties the hands of the Department or the Minister of State on what precisely those services would entail. I understand that there are developing practices, there are new practices, new ways of approaching this, new studies, new information and new expertise. I understand all of that but that is not to say the Minister of State should feel precluded from including within the functions of the authority a commitment to the development of post-adoption services. As I stated, the legislation is a beacon. It is what tells one what is the law in Ireland on adoption. One will look to this Bill when it is enacted and we should include in this important legislation a reference to post-adoption services as being at the heart of what we propose the regime would entail. In those circumstances I am not convinced it is something that should be put off.

I do not think the Minister of State is saying to the House that these services are not important. I am not interpreting him as saying that. However, I merely want him to go that step further and have it stated in the legislation.