Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a landmark day for our State; there is no doubt about it. As others have said, we are half way there. The Minister is the only person here today who belongs to the other House. We are now entrusting him with the Bill to take care of it so it will become law. Personally and politically, I am honoured to be a co-sponsor of the Bill. I thank Senators Power and van Turnhout for this privilege. I am very grateful to all Members of this House for the sensitivity, care and attention they have demonstrated regarding this issue.It is a landmark day for my family because I now have two young people who in a few years, once this Bill is enacted, will have the right to their birth information. At a personal level, I will be saying, "Get ready". Does the Minister understand what I am saying?

There are approximately 50,000 adopted persons in our communities so one could say that approximately 250,000 people will be touched by this Bill. For many people adoption has made their families, so we want it to be a healing process. We know that in the past, adoption was not always a healing process. There was a time when it was shrouded in shame. I am pleased to say that I do not believe that has been the case for the past 20 years. We have moved on immensely in that regard.

Many people are following this debate today, including on Twitter and Facebook, and are joining in this conversation with us. I ask the Minister to progress this Bill for what it is. I know he is planning another Bill and has heads in mind. There may be other aspects he will want to touch on in that Bill. We will look favourably on that, but do not halt this Bill.

I do not know if the Minister intends to sum up but I would be grateful if he could give us an indication of when this Bill might come before the Dáil and when it will be enacted into law. I thank the Minister for his time and sensitivity, and for accepting the Bill today.