No. We need to clarify something before we continue with the debate. This is not to be obstructive, but a large number of amendments are related to the Adoption Authority of Ireland. I am happy for those to be taken together for the purposes of ease of debate. However, amendments Nos. 8 and 9 relate to a different issue, which is the question of whether copies should be made of records. Amendment No. 20 relates to a completely different, separate and serious issue, which is the relationship between the commission a…

That is fine. It relates to the amendment rather than the section. Is that correct?

That is fine. I am happy to accept that. I propose that the grouping stand, as such, with the exception that amendments Nos. 8 and 9 are taken separately and that amendment No. 20 would be taken separately.

We can. People often do it.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following:“ “Authority” means the Adoption Authority of Ireland;”. I am speaking to amendments Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, and several others. My contribution will be lengthier than I would like because this is such a large grouping. Amendment No. 1 is simply around ensuring the Bill would be well-drafted if my proposal was accepted. Some of the proposed changes are consequential. I have tried to ensure that the Bill would remain robustly drafted…

On a point of clarification, I suggest that we change the groupings. Amendments Nos. 19 and 20 are effectively alternatives to each other. To save me reiterating all the same points about amendments Nos. 19 and 20, I suggest that Nos. 19 and 20 be taken together. That might ease the Minister's response if that is agreeable to the House.

I want to address a couple of the issues to which the Minister has spoken. I also wish to add my concern about the manner in which this has been done. I suggest, frankly, that notwithstanding the urgency the Minister sees, there is still no excuse for Committee and Report Stages to be taken together. It does not allow for any real concerns. There are significant legal and legislative concerns, not simply concerns about matters of justice or ethics. By taking Committee and Report Stages together, the Minister does n…

I thank Senator McDowell for clarifying that the database is not affected by this, as it is important that there is unity across the House. There are a number of other areas of agreement across the House, but I must oppose amendments Nos. 7 and 21. I will explain why. It is about the core issue of people's rights to have their stories told, if they wish to tell them, and to own their words and experiences. The 2004 legislation was drafted at a particular time when Ireland was early in beginning its journey. It was …

Hear, hear.

The amendment-----

I need to respond.

On amendment No. 7, I appreciate the points that were made by Senator McDowell and I had hoped that I could support this. It addresses those supplying a document or a record of information. However, my concern is on those who may have given testimony and statements and I was worried about a blurring of the line around such a document as might be a record of a testimony and so forth. I appreciate that should not be the case as these seem to be documents going into the confidential committee. My concern is that if th…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, line 5, to delete "Agency" and substitute "Authority".

I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, line 5, to delete "Agency" and substitute "Minister".

I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, line 5, after "Agency" to insert "and/or the Authority".

I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, line 8, to delete "Agency" and substitute "Minister".

I move amendment No. 8: In page 4, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(3) At the same time of deposition with the Agency, a copy of the database and related records shall be deposited with the Minister.”. Amendments Nos. 8 and 9 relate to the idea of the database as a useful tool and something the Minister has described as potentially important and valuable in terms of the work of Tusla. I raised this issue and did not get a satisfactory answer. Since this legislation sets out where the database migh…

That is perfect. If there is some useful information I am happy to receive it.

Absolutely. I am happy to do that. I will not speak for much longer. My key concern about the question of the database is that I was dissatisfied with the earlier answer. The Minister seems to be signalling that, perhaps, he has more positive answers to tell me now. In terms of the earlier answer, however, I do not believe being inefficient is an adequate argument for the database not being placed elsewhere besides with Tusla. An argument of duplication is inefficient given there are different jobs that Tusla may b…

I thank the Minister for that. It is very good. Out of respect for all my fellow colleagues in the other House in the Dáil, I still believe it would be best practice if Deputies were also able to hear this debate and draft versions of what that should look like. The Minister has the prerogative of still introducing amendments but nobody else in the Dáil does. I am thankful to the Minister. I still regret the process somewhat because it is not ideal to have only one possible source of amendments going into a full ha…