I put down three questions, Nos. 13, 14 and 15. Question No. 14 was addressed to the Minister for Justice. I concede that questions Nos. 13 and 15 could be taken together but I respectfully ask for a separate reply to question No. 14.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transfer of Children to U.S.A.
It is within the discretion of the Minister to give the reply in the form which he thinks is desirable and suitable. I have nothing to say in the matter.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he is aware of the transfer to the United States of America, for the purpose of adoption, of Irish citizens being illegitimate children over one year of age, and, if so, if he will state the number of passports issued in respect of such children, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the number of illegitimate children over one year of age who, since the commencement of the operation of the Adoption Act, 1952, have been transferred from Croom Hospital, County Limerick, to the United States of America with a view to adoption, and if he will give the ages in each case and the date of removal.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the number of children, being Irish citizens under seven years, and in the case of illegitimate children over one year, who, since the coming into operation of the Adoption Act, 1952, have been removed out of the State to the United States of America with a view to adoption, and if he will give (a) the ages and names in each case, (b) the date of each removal, and (c) the place or institution from which such removal was made.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 14 and 15 together.
The number of illegitimate children over one year of age going to the United States for adoption, according to the Passport Office records in the three and a half years since the commencement of the Adoption Act was as follows: 1953, 128; 1954, 182; 1955, 184; 1956 (to 30th June), 49.
The number of passports issued for such children who were inmates of Croom Hospital was as follows: 1953, six; 1954, eight; 1955, eight; 1956 (30th June), four.
I do not propose to give the names of these children and the other particulars sought by the Deputy.
The grant of passports in cases of this kind is subjected to certain requirements, which in general are designed to ensure that the adopting parents are suitable from the point of view of religion, material well-being and otherwise and that facilities exist in the district to which the child is going for its legal adoption. Details of these requirements can be had on application to the Passport Office.
My Department has no record of any legitimate children being removed out of the State to the U.S.A. with a view to adoption and as far as I am aware there have not been any such cases.
Are these figures not alarming? The Minister said that these figures are in respect of children over one year. Section 40 of the Act specifically precludes the removal from this State of illegitimate children over one year.
I am afraid the Deputy is misinterpreting the terms of the Act. As I explained in reply to a question on behalf of the Minister for Justice, the terms of the Act provide that——
Would the Minister quote the relevant section, please?
I will quote the relevant portion of the section. It provides (1) that it does not apply in the case of an illegitimate child under one year of age.
That is not the relevant section quoted?
The Chair cannot decide which is the relevant section. This House is not a court.
I was proposing to quote portion of the section. If the Deputy does not want to hear it, I do not propose to quote it.
Is the Minister satisfied that these unfortunate little children are being better catered for in religious homes, as they are at present, rather than if they had been in the hands of societies or some nests in this country that in the past laid bad hands on these unfortunate children?
I am quite satisfied that, wherever passports were given in these cases, considerable care was taken to see that the adopting persons were suitable in accordance with what were regarded as desirable conditions.