Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 17, between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following:

"(e) providing information, advice and counselling to a birth parent wishing to consider placing a child for adoption;".

Section 4 of the Bill makes arrangements for the adoption of a child, whether on a domestic or inter-country basis, and sets out the various issues which need to be taken into account when making an adoption order. This amendment would ensure the provision of information, advice and counselling to birth parents forms an integral part of the adoption process. It is a straightforward amendment which provides the woman in such a situation an opportunity to consider carefully the implications of her decision. There is no doubt that standards have improved dramatically both in Ireland and internationally in the way birth mothers are looked after but problems continue to arise in some areas. The reason we spend so much time discussing standards is because this area is vulnerable to abuse. In certain circumstances, women could be put under pressure to make inappropriate decisions. That certainly happened in the past. I move this amendment because it is important to provide support and counselling to birth parents considering whether to place their children for adoption. It is a safeguard amendment to ensure appropriate counselling is made available.

Given the focus of the Hague Convention, I presume the Minister of State is raising the issue of standards in his negotiations with Vietnam. This causes anxiety among people, however, because more than 600 families have already adopted children from that country. If an issue arises regarding standards, one must ask why we allowed these apparently successful adoptions. What are the new barriers to the agreement? The Minister of State is unable to clarify the issues that have arisen in terms of standards and has asked us to take him at his word when he states he will make every effort to conclude an agreement. I accept his good intentions in that regard and am sure he wants to reach an agreement but standards are important. We must ensure birth parents receive the highest possible level of support when making what is often a difficult decision.