Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister because he set it out very well, and that is the great thing about debating these issues. I am a lot clearer following his explanation, and I want to acknowledge that. People in opposition are not always perceived to be supportive of Government, and I am in this case. The Minister has set out clearly some of the issues. However, Senator Higgins has made a point for inserting the term "or illegal" as part of it as opposed to "incorrect", because for many people it was illegal. The Minister has confirmed it was illegal in terms of birth registrations, and that is the message. It is about language and about words, and we always know it is, and people hang on every word, especially in the circumstances around this. There is a bit of a job for us all to communicate that issue around illegal birth registrations. I am thinking as I am going down to tea today of ringing up my colleagues - the family that I mentioned - who I know are listening to this debate and asking them if they are any wiser in terms of the issue of adoption as opposed to the illegal birth registration. Remember that organisations and institutions in this State facilitated that illegal birth registration. Even emphasising that in some way helps them to understand. That is important. I genuinely thank the Minister for teasing out this matter.