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

I will take amendment No. 130 first. When I spoke to Senator Boyhan's amendment No. 108 earlier, I indicated that I was open to reviewing the text of section 70. I am, therefore, a little disappointed in Senator Boyhan's comments suggesting this is all being railroaded through. I said I would respond to that and I have indicated to Senator Higgins that I will respond to some of her amendments on Report Stage. I have listened and taken points on board but, where I do not agree with proposals, I have also put forward clear articulations of why I do not believe they should be brought forward. I want to put that on record because we are coming to the end. This has been a lengthy process and a respectful one. There will be amendments to the legislation on foot of the hours we have put into Committee Stage over the past two weeks. I will bring forward a proposal to amend the text. In particular, I will propose that the report be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, as suggested by Senators Higgins and Boyhan, and that it be a broad report. It should be noted that I also changed the review provision in the Dáil. Originally, it was to occur after four years but that has been brought back to two years. It is important to strike a balance and not to leave it too long while also ensuring that there has been time for the Bill to operate so that, if there are problems, they will have been flushed out. There is not point doing it in a year because problems will not have been flushed out at that point.

I do not agree with amendment No. 131. The role of the Child and Family Agency will, of course, be assessed with regard to the operation of the overall Act. The agency also provides its own annual report. This will be part of that report. I meet with the chief executive and the chairperson of the agency on a quarterly basis. As long as I have been in this role, information and tracing has been at the top of the list of issues we discuss. The aency's role and, indeed, the role of AAI and other relevant bodies, will be looked at under the terms of the review. Singling out a separate report for the Child and Family Agency in the legislation would not be beneficial.