Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank my predecessor, Senator Reilly, for his kind comments. He identified two issues which are integral to the Bill and long overdue.

Senator Burke mentioned he came across a case regarding a child who is over 18 and I will ask him about this. His points on incorrect information about a child are important.

To answer some of the practical issues raised, we will bring forward the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill shortly and it is appropriate that it should start here. It will help us to do the best job we can before we get it to the Dáil. The way Senator McDowell complimented his colleague in his reflection brought together much of what is underneath those comments, if not explicitly referred to, and causes me to ask the question what are the values that underlie what we are doing in the Bill. Earlier in the session Senator Boyhan stated where there is love, children will be cherished. The religious body and institutional organisation to which Senator McDowell referred, as he knows well, at least on its best days, draws on its greatest aspects of tradition, that what used to be called a revelation but is the profound insight, that God is love. I hope the Bill can contribute towards ensuring more children have the opportunity to be cherished by the love of a family, even in the diversity we acknowledge exists now, and this is part of why Senator Boyhan is getting some of the responses. Much of it has to do with resistance. We need to have a diversity of families. We have moved in this direction to ensure we have more opportunities where children are loved and cherished. I note and acknowledge the contribution of Senator McDowell, which reminded us of this. For us to have the child-centredness the Bill represents, we absolutely require the diversity of family which so many of us have struggled to bring into being. I thank Senators and look forward to continuing this conversation on the remaining Stages.