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

I thank Senator Boyhan for his support and kind comments. On Senator Higgins's point, yes, there will have to be engagement. As she knows, the stakeholder reference group that is to be established will be a touchstone for the ongoing implementation of the Bill. I have always recognised that State agencies have failed, and failed hugely, in some of their engagements with citizens. Moving away from the legislation and the question of what certain agencies could or could not have done, how they did what they did was, too often, not right. The chief executive of Tusla, Mr. Bernard Gloster, has been very upfront on this matter. He has met with large numbers of adopted people, including those who were subject to illegal birth registrations. He has engaged not just by way of a once-off meeting but in a substantive and continuous way with individuals. He is, of course, accountable to the Oireachtas through the children's committee. There is a large range of mechanisms for the Minister, whoever that may be, and the Oireachtas to examine and question the implementation of this legislation by State bodies, particularly the Child and Family Agency.