Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy Leader for setting out the Order of Business. I also thank the Cathaoirleach, the Seanad staff and the staff of the Oireachtas for facilitating a very late debate in the Seanad. We will not sit until 1.15 a.m. tomorrow but we did so yesterday to deal with important legislation, the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill. It was a good debate, which there is no point in revisiting now. We move on and we will have other opportunities next week. I acknowledge the staff, the Cathaoirleach and the Senators who were or could be here and engaged in the debate.

Let me put down a marker. We talk about a family-friendly Parliament. I am not here to define what a family is - there are very mixed groupings - but people have family commitments. It is not right or proper that we sit until 1.15 a.m. to deal with legislation when we have a half-day on Tuesdays. The issue is one for discussion on another day in another forum and I will take it up again. Nonetheless, I want to put down a marker. I am always conscious that this is a public forum. Members of the public listen and see us on Oireachtas TV. I use this opportunity to communicate my messaging and I never apologise for that. This is not the way to run a Parliament. We should all take away that message, think about it and use our contacts and energy to focus on how we can reschedule our business in a way that is supportive of people. A number of Members could not be here last night because family members were sick. We need to bear that in mind. I will leave it at that.

I ask for a debate on the mother and baby institutions payment scheme announced by the Government yesterday. There are clearly some anomalies and shortcomings in the scheme. As The Irish Timesstated today, there are some notable exclusions as regards eligibility. I do not intend reading out the relevant article. Suffice it to say, it is in that newspaper today and people can read it for themselves.

Yesterday, I raised illegal adoptions and birth registrations, which are very serious issues. We have to find out what happened, who can be held accountable, what institutions were involved and what was the role of the State. We often talk about the role of the church, in the broader sense of the word, but the State had a significant role in all of this. We need a frank discussion of these issues.

On the issue of illegal adoptions and birth registrations, we know the Minister has a report on his desk setting out proposals for the State response to illegal birth registrations, which he commissioned from Professor Conor O’Mahony. We need to see that report. We also need to have a frank discussion and question and answer session in the Seanad, this public arena I talk about and value so much. I ask the Deputy Leader to facilitate this. I know there are many demands but this is critically important for the people involved.

Many Senators will know Samantha Long, the administrator for the Independent Group and assistant to Senator McDowell. She was on the radio last night and also featured on "Six One News". Everyone should have a look at that programme. Ms Long, somebody who works with us and walks the corridors of this House, is telling us her story. Many people want that opportunity. As legislators and politicians, we need to ask some hard questions of the Minister. I acknowledge his commitment to first engaging with the people directly involved, the survivors, which is critically important. The sooner he comes to the House to discuss these the two issues, the better. I ask that the Deputy Leader facilitate this.