asked the Minister for Health the number of adoption orders made in each of the years between 1978 and 1985, inclusive, in favour of: (a) Roman Catholic adopters, (b) Protestant adopters, (c) Jewish adopters and (d) adopters of mixed religion; and the reason the Adoption Board has omitted publishing information as to the religious background of adopters in all reports published by it since 1977.

Up to 1977 the Adoption Board included religion of adopters in their annual report. However, following a review of the report format the board decided to discontinue publishing this information from 1978 onwards. An important consideration in the board's decision was the change introduced in the Adoption Act, 1974, permitting adoption by persons of a different religion to that of the child.

Statistics on the religion of adopters from 1978 to 1985 are not available in the form requested by the Deputy. However, I have arranged to have collated statistics in respect of the years 1978 to 1984, inclusive, in the same form as the analyses published by the board up to 1977 and I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate them in the Official Report. I might add that of the 69 orders made by the board so far in 1985, 65 were granted to Roman Catholic couples, two were granted to Protestant couples and two were granted to couples of inter-Church marriages.

Following is the statement referred to:

I thank the Minister for arranging to give these statistics later. Is he aware that inter-religious married couples and couples who are members of minority religions are experiencing difficulty in adopting despite the changes introduced by the 1974 Act? Will he consider, in any new legislation to be introduced in this area, appropriate changes which should be inserted in such legislation and in particular ensure that adoption societies and health boards treat adoption applicants equally, irrespective of their religious persuasion?

As the Deputy is aware, up to 1974 it was not lawful for a child to be adopted by a person of a different religion to the child, with some exceptions in certain circumstances for members of certain religions. Section 4 of the 1974 Act removed that restriction. I am aware of the difficulty referred to by the Deputy. In placing a child for adoption the society generally must have regard to a number of considerations apart from religion, the object being to place the child with a couple who best meets the child's needs. The society take into account any preferences expressed by the natural mother and the general circumstances of the adoptive family. I am considering the point raised by the Deputy in the context of amending the legislation dealing with adoption.

Arising out of the Minister's helpful reply, is he aware that some health boards who have powers under the adoption legislation to arrange for adoption placements have indicated an unwillingness to include in lists of prospective adoption applicants couples of minority religious faiths? Will the Minister issue a directive to the health boards to clarify their legal obligations in this regard so as to ensure that all adoption applicants are treated equally when they seek an adoption placement through a health board?

Despite the removal of the legal restrictions I would have considerable difficulty in issuing a directive to a health board to give exceptional weight to the issue raised by the Deputy. However, I am considering it in the light of the report of the review committee. The committee did not make any recommendation on this matter, but inevitably it will come up in the framing of the legislation.

I want to ask the Minister two brief questions. In view of the fact that the review committee published their report some nine to ten months ago, and in view of the fact that the Minister's Department and the Minister have indicated that the legislation is being prepared, will it be possible to have a debate in this House on the findings in the review committee's report so that Members of this House will have an opportunity to express their views on it and have some direct input into the preparation of the legislation prior to publication? When does the Minister envisage that the new Adoption Bill will be published?

The legislation is going ahead quite rapidly. I intend to have it published this year. I am anxious to have published the Children Bill at the end of next month as the first Bill. The Adoption Bill will be the second one. I will be glad to consult with the Deputy on this aspect in the preparation of the Bill.