Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to praise the Minister for her total commitment to trying to solve this problem. As several Senators have outlined, this is obviously an important matter for the families concerned. I commend the Minister on her efforts.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh has mentioned a number of the hoops that have had to be gone through to reach this stage. Some Members of the House expressed criticism in this regard in recent weeks. They hammered me on the Order of Business on several occasions. I informed them that the Minister was doing everything possible to bring this Bill to the House. Now that she has done that, I think everybody involved owes her a great debt of gratitude. The families involved are certainly delighted that this day has come because they will be able to adopt children whom they know and they want. The Minister has done a tremendous job from that point of view. I commend her on her continued efforts in this portfolio. She was the first person to be appointed as a senior Minister for children. She is doing an absolutely wonderful job. Earlier this year, she succeeded in bringing to fruition a referendum that many people had been looking for over the years. The successful passing of that referendum was another step on the way where adopted children are concerned. I commend the Minister on her efforts and commend the Bill to the House.