David Norris (Independent)

It is appropriate to be prudent and careful in these matters. There are issues which the Minister of State needs to answer. A number of us, including Senators Fitzgerald, Bacik, Prendergast and me, asked about the 1 May deadline in advance of the deadline. We made it clear there was some urgency about it. The House is entitled to an explanation as to why that deadline passed. There may be an explanation and I hope the Minister of State will give it.

I understand difficulties are experienced by other countries. Recently somebody who was in an adoptive situation told me that the United States Administration also has difficulty with Vietnamese adoptions for one reason or another. This is just hearsay and I would like the Minister of State to clarify the matter. There has also been a charge that the Minister of State was in some way irresponsible by not visiting Vietnam. He indicated to me that he had been to Vietnam on several occasions and it would be helpful for him to place that on the record of the House.

My response to this campaign is not just on this issue - it is a question of the political technique involved. There are many other similar campaigns and I think they are actually a hindrance. I will give another example of why it is a hindrance. Today I got an additional volume of these kinds of e-mails. They were very mixed. Some of them were very kind, understanding and heart-rending, and gave really personal details. My secretary has the entire file and is typing up replies. That is why I do not have them all. I would not be able to quote them in any case. I support the matter despite my reservations about the way in which the campaign was mounted. I am trying to serve notice on many well motivated and decent people who get involved in these campaigns. They each see their own individual letter. They need to be careful because if they overuse this instrument it becomes blunt and will alienate their supporters. One letter is fine. However, if they get back in response to their circular letter a circular letter from the politician, they should not try to crucify a politician who is already on their side. They should never try on with somebody like me the threat to take a vote away, because I do not want the vote of people who treat their vote in this cavalier way with very little respect for the democratic ideals in which the State was founded.

I support the amendment despite the campaign as it may provide a method of breaking the logjam and resolve a very painful human situation.