Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, for his reply. I appreciate that he was answering on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan. Could he pass on my query about whether the information services he mentioned are additional? I hope they are, because there is an urgent need for extra services. This is the feedback I am receiving, and the Minister is probably getting similar feedback. There is an urgent need for a properly staffed helpline. Could the Minister of State pass on to him my call for additional funding for Barnardos? It has been doing this for years and has the expertise. In addition to my experience, I have had fantastic feedback from many other adoptees and birth parents who have been through Barnardos. They could not talk more highly of the service. Perhaps I will table the issue on information and tracing again with the Minister because I would like to tease through the legal issues with him. I look forward to the proposals being brought before the Joint Committee on Health and Children. Although I am not a member of the committee, I intend to attend and contribute to the process.