Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join with Senator Higgins in thanking the Minister. He has listened. I spoke about this issue on the Committee Stage.Much of this is about belonging. It is a sense of who they are, where they have come from and the relationship or lack of it with extended family. It is always interesting when we see programmes on television tracing family history. The interviewer might ask if the person would like to see a picture of their mother, father or aunt. It is very powerful even though it might only be one picture, but it is so strong and important. If there is a resemblance to the person within the picture, they hang on dearly to it.

I have heard about and spoken to many people who were not in contact with their families for many years. Due to circumstances, a mother might have written and said she had to surrender her child and give it up. The person who wonders why he or she was in State care for 16 years then see the mother did not consent. There are files where a mother has been contacted many times by State agencies or the health board and said she was not prepared to surrender her child for adoption in the hope that her circumstances might change. In some cases, we see that someone is sending literally a few shillings a month. That demonstrates a commitment, love and affection on the part of the older person, yet circumstances kept these people apart. That is all it was – circumstances. If things had been different, they would have been very different. They were different times. I know so many people that have clung on to that little connection, the little gem that made them feel special and helped them many years later to understand and to overcome some of the reasons why they might have felt rejected, and also to help them understand the journey not only that they had to take but their parent or parents had to take.

The amendment is critically important. I thank the Minister for taking it on board. It is appreciated.