Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I made it quite clear that my concern is where it is informal and where people are not registered, etc. That is the concern about where gaps arise. It is in relation to those who are not in the space of the registered adoption society or of accredited bodies. I would put it to the Minister that there is a gap, even in the example of psychiatric institutions that I have given to him. It is in that context that I suggest, rather than waiting to address such a gap under section 43(2), and rather than putting a burden on those who are seeking relevant information to have to identify what they do not know, it would be better for the Minister to provide for such in the legislation.

I am happy to reserve my position in order for it to be clarified whether all religious orders are to be covered under the accredited body provision. If the Minister has further information on that, I would be happy to wait and to address that on Report Stage. However, it is my understanding that they would not all be fully covered by that. It may be the case that the majority is.

In the case of the psychiatric institutions, the Minister asked where there are gaps and I am informing him that it is a gap. In that context, I may reserve my right to come back to amendments Nos. 26 and 27, if the Minister can provide information to clarify how religious orders are covered under section 2(1)(g), "a registered adoption society", and section 2(1)(h), "an accredited body", where they are not covered by section 2(1)(g) and section 2(1)(h) and what aspects of their work are not covered by section 2(1)(g) and section 2(1)(h).

In relation to the psychiatric institutions, I will have to press that amendment because I really believe this is a gap. It was part of a whole architecture of fear and control that women faced in Ireland. It was not only women who were in these institutions, but also women in other parts of Irish society. These institutions were one of the ways that it was ensured that choice and options were removed from women. It was one of the tools in relation to forced adoption.