Seanad debates

Friday, 20 December 2013

Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

Sections 1 and 2 agreed to.

Title agreed to.

Bill reported without amendment and received for final consideration.

Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

11:00 am

Photo of Mary WhiteMary White (Fianna Fail)
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Most people, including politicians, do not realise that Ministers seeking to implement serious change must display great skill in drawing together the various groups and Departments involved. In the case of this Bill, the Minister had to bring together diplomats, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and others. In my experience, few politicians have this ability and skill. The former taoisigh, Charles Haughey and Albert Reynolds, had a wonderful ability to bang heads together in the various Departments. For Senator Bacik's information, I know what I am talking about and I am correct. She does not know how difficult it is to bring together all the different groups.

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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On a point of order, we have concluded the passage of the Bill. While it is appropriate for Senators to make a brief comment on the Bill, it is not appropriate to stray beyond that.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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That is not a point of order. I ask Senator White to confine her remarks to the Bill.

Photo of Mary WhiteMary White (Fianna Fail)
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I am highlighting the skill shown by the Minister in bringing together the various Departments and individuals. One can be sure the legislation met resistance among the bureaucrats. While not all of them resist, as someone who has observed government for many years, I am aware of the natural propensity of bureaucrats not to act.

I tabled amendments to legislation on the city and enterprise boards which were rejected out of hand. No one spoke to me about them. The only comment I received was that they would give rise to a cost for the Exchequer, which was absolute rubbish. I proposed that people volunteer with the enterprise boards. The bureaucracy reacts to changes and amendments in a rash manner and I will no longer allow that to happen.

On the day of his mother's death, the former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, travelled to the North to bring the peace process to a conclusion. Last Friday, I attended a very sad meeting at NUI Maynooth with former loyalist prisoners. It was heart-breaking to hear about the type of warring that is taking place on the ground, which threatens the sustainability of the peace process. I commend the former leaders of the Fianna Fáil Party on bringing the Good Friday Agreement to its conclusion. The Minister's mother and father would be proud of her today. I wish her further success. Perhaps she will one day become the leader of the Fine Gael Party.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I do not propose to allow all Senators to speak on this Stage. The normal procedure is that the main spokespersons may make a brief comment. The Bill has been passed and Senators may not make Second Stage speeches.

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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I commend and congratulate the Minister and her colleagues on having the Bill passed.

Photo of Jillian van TurnhoutJillian van Turnhout (Independent)
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I warmly thank the Minister and her officials and staff who do such excellent work on behalf of children. I also extend thanks to the Seanad staff and all the staff of the Houses and wish them a merry Christmas. We will have a well-deserved break.

Photo of Terry LeydenTerry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I compliment the Minister on having the Bill passed with the co-operation of the House. Having served in four Departments - including as Minister for Trade and Marketing, Minister of State for Health and Minister of State for Post, Telegraphs and Transport - I recall receiving excellent co-operation and intellectual support from officials. They showed great willingness to work with me, as a Minister, throughout the world and were extremely efficient when I was the main negotiator for Ireland during the deliberations on the Single European Act. The work they did for me in Brussels was second to none and Ministers receive excellent briefings when they visit that city. The Irish public service is the best of its kind in the world and the best at negotiating in Europe.

On the trade side, officials were most effective and efficient and nothing I requested and no proposal I ever made was ever turned down without full and detailed analysis and support.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator is straying well beyond the scope of the Bill.

Photo of Terry LeydenTerry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I place on record the unheralded work of officials who cannot-----

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I wish the Senator was as co-operative with the Chair as officials were with him. We are discussing the Adoption (Amendment) Bill.

Photo of Terry LeydenTerry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Given that officials are not in a position to defend themselves in the House, I am speaking on their behalf.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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This discussion has nothing to do with officials.

Photo of Terry LeydenTerry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I wish them all a happy Christmas.

Question put and agreed to.