Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I know that she is committed to this issue and has put a lot of work into it. It is important to acknowledge that but also to acknowledge the presence in the Public Gallery of some people who are directly affected by this issue. This is a really important day for adoptees in the context of their right to their identity, their right to know where they have come from, to whom they belong, their lineage, history and connections. Everyone has that right. It is very easy if one has been brought up in so-called "normal" family circumstances, whereby one does not have those questions. I have personal experience of this and have many valuable friends who have had these experiences. I understand the constant searching and questioning. Where do I belong? Where do I fit in? It is very important. A lot of this is symbolic. One cannot necessarily crystallise this in words. It is a sense or a feeling and is much more nuanced than simple sentences, which is an important point.

I am disappointed that there was an attempt by the Government to push through five hours of debate. I do not know whether the Minister had any input into that but ultimately, she is the Minister. We were presented with a situation whereby we were expected to stay here for five hours today and I would like the Minister to comment on that. Did she have any knowledge of it? Did she support that proposal? It was a misjudged proposal in light of the short timeframe provided to study and engage with the Government's amendments. I know some of the people who have been in the House in the last day or two, interacting and engaging with Senators on these issues. This situation is disappointing and I do not think the Minister should allow it, particularly given the great expectations people have of her.

Somebody said to me yesterday that this is about legacy for a lot of people. The Minister has a good track record in this area and I expect that she will listen and take all of this on board. This is a process that we are working through here. It is a legislative process and while the Minister has amendments, so too do Senators. I also want to put down a marker that I reserve the right to table further amendments. I do not want to just duplicate amendments in order to appear interested. I want to engage and work on this in a collaborative way in order to produce the best possible legislation. I urge the Minister to go back to the powers that be and to the Leader of this House and tell them that if more time is needed, more time will be provided. We need more time to go back and engage with and talk to people who have been directly affected by these issues. The Minister must give us that time. We should not push this through just for the sake of having legislation. We need good legislation. I do not doubt the Minister's commitment or that of anyone else.

I ask the Minister to address my question about the five-hour debate, to clarify her position on that and to tell us who is driving the pressure on this House to do this work. This is important because it is about identity and much more. We should listen to others and we should have enough time to share the Minister's amendments with people outside this House, to seek their advice based on their personal experience. At the end of the day, we all want good legislation that addresses everyone's needs.