Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for agreeing to adjourn the Committee Stage debate on the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016, which was to resume today, and thereby ensuring we did not have to divide the House. I welcome her decision to pause the legislative process so that all of us can take time to give the Bill further consideration and engage in further consultation with stakeholders. Like the Minister, Senators have been contacted by many people - I will not say we have been bombarded because that would be the wrong word - who have written eloquent letters to us. I am not talking about the standard email we tend to receive from an email address.We received genuine and heartfelt emails, correspondence and calls to our offices. There are many concerns, not just on the part of adoptees but also of birth parents. Some of those latter concerns have not been vocalised. Perhaps the people concerned are of an older, less tech-savvy generation. We feel that their voices also need to be heard in this debate.

The balancing of these rights is a huge responsibility. It is a huge challenge for the Seanad. This is really delicate legislation. We have not had such delicate legislation in this House since legislating for abortion. It really sets our minds racing. Many of us find it hard to know where the balance lies. It is a huge challenge but it is on us as legislators to think about it a little bit more carefully. The Minister decided to pause this Bill because of the huge sentiment and the huge moral issue on which we are all going to have to decide. I look forward to engaging with my colleague, Senator Bacik. We have had a cursory look at her amendments. They seem very sound. We will be working along with my colleague in the Dáil, Deputy Rabbitte, who has put a lot of work into engaging with the Minister's office on this issue. Hopefully we will all be able to work together. This is something on which we need to legislate. It has gone on too long. We need to ensure that people have access to their records. DNA ancestry databases remind us that science will move on a little bit quicker than we do. I know many people who have found relatives through the DNA ancestry databases. This legislation might not be applicable to everybody if they are able to go down other avenues, which is a good thing in my own opinion. I want to thank the Minister. I look forward to working with everyone across the House on this legislation.