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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Adoption Bill amendment

Summary

Senator Ruane seconded the proposal to adjourn debate on the Adoption Bill and joined in congratulating Senator O'Sullivan. Senator Warfield also backed adjourning the Bill to allow further engagement and then discussed Seanad reform and by-elections.

I join in the good wishes extended to our colleague Senator Grace O'Sullivan. The Civil Engagement group has been effective and had a lot of success in pursuing the different policy initiatives and agendas it has put forward. Senator Grace O'Sullivan has always been an integral part of that work, with Ed Davitt who works in her office. Although we wish her well, we will definitely miss her as part of the group. She is a huge loss in the work we do.

I support Senator Ó Ríordáin's request that the Order of Business be amended to allow the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 to be adjourned at 6 p.m. A huge amount of work has been done by the Department, something I will not deny, in getting the Bill to where it is now. Unfortunately, however, there has been a problem in communication with the Adoption Rights Alliance, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and all of the different groups involved, including adoptees who are scared and anxious about the Bill, even with the Minister's amendments. They believe it is flawed and does not balance their right to information and an identity. Given that those who will be affected most by the Bill only became aware on Tuesday of last week when they were contacted by Senators that it was on the schedule, we need to give them time to engage with the parties and Senators on the 161 amendments that have been brought forward. To do this, the debate on the Bill should be adjourned at 6 p.m. They were not able to contact many Senators last week when the House was in recess and we should give them the space they need to do so. I support Senator Ó Ríordáin's request in that regard.

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Denis O'Donovan An Cathaoirleach Fianna Fáil

Is the Senator formally seconding the amendment proposed in regard to Senator Dolan's Bill?

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I second the amendment.

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I join Senators in wishing Senator Grace O'Sullivan well as an MEP. With Ed Davitt, she will be a loss to the Houses. If there is to be a by-election to fill a vacancy in this House, although I am not sure of the timeframe, we should consider the amendment proposed by Sinn Féin to the Seanad reform implementation group, whereby lists of replacements would be submitted, rather than have yet another progressive voice on the Government benches, or not, as in the case of Senator Marshall.

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