asked the Minister for Justice if he will amend the law to enable him to make enquiries regarding long delays in the case of making adoption orders, as such delays are leading to much hardship and frustration to those intending to adopt children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Adoption Orders Delays.
16.
I do not propose to amend the law.
I have no evidence submitted to me which would go to show that there has been avoidable delay on the part of An Bórd Uchtála in carrying out their statutory functions.
On the contrary, all the evidence goes to show that the Board are doing fine work with commendable despatch.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary accept that I know of a case where, owing to the present Act, there has been a delay of seven years? If I give him the details of the case, will he look into the matter? Nobody else seems to be able to do anything about it.
It is not necessary to give me the details of the case as I am fully aware of them. There has not been a delay of seven years in dealing with it. The case has been before the Board for seven years. It is no fault of the Board that it is not decided. The facts of the case are such that the Board are not in a position to decide it.
That is the very reason I suggest the Act be amended. I appreciate that the Board can do nothing in this case, under the present law. There is difficulty in this case and in others also.