Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to find out what the situation is with the Informal Adoptions (Regularisation) Bill 2019. It is a Labour Party Private Members' Bill in the Dáil that is with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone. It is about the informal adoptions which took place. St. Patrick's Guild and the Rotunda Girls Aid Society provided for the fostering and boarding out of children prior to the commencement of the Adoption Act 1952. Subsequently, they were registered as adoption societies under the Act. The files of both organisations would clearly show that some children were irregularly and informally adopted and, therefore, wrongly registered. This raises issues for people now in the context of inheritance, medical records and so on. They want to regularise their position. Some can do this because the paperwork is available to facilitate it, but others cannot. The Labour Party's Bill seeks to deal with that issue. I ask the Leader to check at what stage the Bill is at in the Dáil and request the Minister to come to the Seanad for a debate and discussion on it. It is an issue for many throughout the country, including some who do not yet realise it. It is a vital matter. I would appreciate if the Leader made those arrangements.