Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On Second Stage I referred to some of the shortcomings of the Bill. One major flaw in the adoption process is the financial barrier. It impacts on many, with legal fees as high as €15,000. It prevents adoptions and prevents children from having a caring and loving home. It prevents prospective adopters from becoming loving parents. Where people can afford the high cost, the burden stifles them from providing a nurturing start for the child, since money that could be spent on providing for the care and future of the child goes instead towards the cost of legal administration.

I hope the Minister shares these concerns and agrees that this is one of the most notable outstanding barriers to adoption that remains for prospective parents. I hope the Minister will amend the legislation to that effect on Report Stage.