Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The impression could be given here that religious orders involved in the provision of adoption are not somehow covered. It is important to be absolutely clear here. A registered adoption society and an accredited body are both covered, so any religious institution or organisation that is either an accredited body or a registered adoption society is fully covered by this legislation. I would hate for the impression to go out, based on the tenor of this debate, that there is some great gap here. There is no great gap here.Those religious organisations that were accredited, and those involved in those institutions that were accredited organisations, are covered by this legislation. That is important.

In terms of what I, or any other Minister, might do in the future, I can say that if at any point it is shown to me that there is a gap in the coverage of the legislation and that it is denying people access to relevant records, I would be very happy to act and to use the provisions of this legislation to fill that gap. Where it is clear that there is a gap, I will act to fill it.