Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for bringing the Bill quickly through the House. The Fianna Fáil Party supports the legislation and Senator White outlined her views that favoured the Minister's position in this regard. However, I feel that the Minister and her predecessor have not reacted speedily enough to these issues. If I was Minister I would have travelled to Russia, sat down with its government and outlined what we want. Under a previous Administration I travelled to Vietnam and pleaded with the then Minister for Foreign Affairs here not to just communicate by e-mail or telephone but meet the Vietnamese ministers involved. Face to face communication is important for adoption issues.

The stance taken by the Russian Government has damaged the possibility of Russian adoptions. Ireland has an excellent record in the adoption of Russian children and provided them with beautiful families. The children have been given wonderful opportunities that they would not have in parts of Russia. That is why Ireland's adoption record stands alone. Ireland is superior to any other country in the world in its treatment of adopted children and the way they are embraced by families. I have seen the contribution that adopted children have made to their adoptive families and will make in the future.