Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following discussions with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, we have agreed that it would be appropriate for the change to the in camera rule provided in the Courts Bill also to apply to court proceedings under the Adoption Act 2010. The relevant proceedings would appear to be those provided for by sections 18, 30, 31, 49, 54 and 92 of the 2010 Act. Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 provide for this. However, the Adoption Bill 2010 does not contain an explicit in camera requirement in three relevant sections and I am advised that in the interests of clarity and consistency, it would be better to insert an explicit reference to the requirement. Accordingly, a requirement for proceedings to be held in private is being explicitly inserted in sections 18, 30 and 31 of the Adoption Act by amendments Nos. 17 to 19, inclusive. Amendment No. 2 is consequential to these amendments.