Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join in the good wishes extended to our colleague Senator Grace O'Sullivan. The Civic Engagement group has been effective and had a lot of success in pursuing the different policy initiatives and agendas it has put forward. Senator Grace O'Sullivan has always been an integral part of that work, with Ed Davitt who works in her office. Although we wish her well, we will definitely miss her as part of the group. She is a huge loss in the work we do.

I support Senator Ó Ríordáin's request that the Order of Business be amended to allow the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 to be adjourned at 6 p.m. A huge amount of work has been done by the Department, something I will not deny, in getting the Bill to where it is now. Unfortunately, however, there has been a problem in communication with the Adoption Rights Alliance, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and all of the different groups involved, including adoptees who are scared and anxious about the Bill, even with the Minister's amendments. They believe it is flawed and does not balance their right to information and an identity. Given that those who will be affected most by the Bill only become aware on Tuesday of last week when they were contacted by Senators that it was on the schedule, we need to give them time to engage with the parties and Senators on the 161 amendments that have been brought forward. To do this, the debate on the Bill should be adjourned at 6 p.m. They were not able to contact many Senators last week when the House was in recess and we should give them the space they need to do so. I support Senator Ó Ríordáin's request in that regard.