Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank everybody in the House for their co-operation. With only 60 Senators in the House, I have been very surprised by the number of personal stories from Members based on direct or family experience. These stories show how much the subject ripples throughout society. This is a really proud day for me. I thank Senator Power, in particular, for all her work on the Bill. I thank also Senator Healy Eames, Dr. Fergus Ryan and all the individuals who have come forward to tell their stories and bear witness, including the NGOs that have been advocating. The 50,000 to 60,000 voices are now being heard, certainly by Seanad Éireann. For me, this is a really proud day. Very often we talk about our past here, and this legislation is a way for us to provide a remedy. It is really powerful when we can let the light in, and it is good day for Seanad Éireann.

For me, it is important that we pass this Bill on to the Dáil. I hope it deals with it as efficiently and effectively as we have. The real proud day for me will be when this Bill or a similar one — I hope it will be this one — will come into operation and people can really vindicate their right to their identity so the yearning within them can in some way be addressed. We must keep pushing this agenda so the voices of the affected may be heard.