I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 20 (a) and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy McManus — the implications for Irish adoptions of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the Keegan case; (2) Deputy Jim Mitchell — the payment of higher education grants in November or December each year instead of September; and the unfairness of the covenant and grant system to those just above the threshold for higher education grants; and (3) Deputy Shatter — the need for the Government to take all essential steps to ensure that no difficulties will arise in completing proposed adoptions as a result of the decision in the matter by the European Court of Human Rights; and the implications of the judgment for the validity of existing adoptions.
The matters raised by the following Deputies McManus, Shatter and Jim Mitchell have been selected for discussion.
As the matters raised by Deputies McManus and Shatter are quite similar, it is suggested that each Deputy should first make his or her five minute statement, after which the Minister for Health will reply to both.