David Norris (Independent)

I support the amendment. I do so having spoken on the matter on Second Stage and based on comments on the issue here.

I wish also to refer to the e-mail campaign. Senator Healy Eames has done us a service by placing on the record some of the main elements of the brief provided through this campaign, thus rendering it unnecessary for me to do so. I received well over 100 e-mails, most of them formal and repetitious. As I live a busy life and often do not leave this place until 11 p.m. I sent a form letter in response explaining that while I had great sympathy for them I could not respond to each individual. This provoked a variety of responses, some of which were understanding and included the same type of heart-rending personal tales placed on the record by Senator Healy Eames. Others were pretty shrill, threatening and bullying and demanded action "NOW" - in capitals letters. I do not respond well to that type of demand nor do I propose to.

I say to anybody embarking on this type of campaign - there are a number of them around including one in support of my distinguished colleague, Senator Bacik, who has proposed legislation on climate change, which I fully support - I do not need to be hectored. Many have told me they are voters in my constituency. I am not the slightest bit interested in the Dáil. I chose to be in Seanad Éireann and I have no intention of trying to make a jump into the Dáil. I find it very insulting that people tried to blackmail me by suggesting they will take their puny little vote away from me. The very same people bellyache about the calibre of politicians they get. They get the calibre of politicians the system encourages. It is pointless to engage in this type of campaign. The level of intensity merely frustrates the admirable motive of the people who embark on such campaigns. The central organising body involved should be aware that rather than advancing the cause of adoption they may very well alienate people who spend much of their time supporting them.

As in all legislation in this area, I place the rights of the child as the primary element. It is heart-rending that people endure long processes and I understand and sympathise with them, particularly if they have been through infertility treatment and so on. However, they are adults. At the end of the day, what this Government is required to do is to safeguard the interests of children, those who are Irish and those who may become Irish. We must seek to avoid situations such as that which arose in respect of the Dowse family who adopted a child from the Far East and who then, because the child did not fit in with them, wanted to swap that child for another.