Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fair enough; I second the amendment. I thought Senator Feargal Quinn was going to do so.

The Minister has consistently argued that the Bill has very much been constructed with the best interests of the child in mind. That is not credible, but this is a test for her which will prove that either I am wrong and she is right or that she is wrong and I am right. That it is desirable that we update the register means, in effect, that it is not in the best interests of the child, given that it will be at the discretion of the donor. If the Minister really wants the legislation to be in the best interests of the child - I have tabled an amendment on that matter - there is no doubt that it should be mandatory to update the register. It will be imperative for a child in the future to be aware of the position on, for example, the health of the donor. Any attempt to make it optional clearly illustrates that the Bill is all about adults rights and has very little to do with the best interests of the child, which I contend is the case. The Minister will either confirm or deny this in accepting or rejecting the amendment.