asked the Minister for Justice if he is now in a position to give his final views on the urgent demand for the enactment of legislation for legal adoption and if he will state when it is proposed to take steps in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Legal Adoption.
Mr. Byrne
asked the Minister for Justice if he will state what difficulties, if any, prevent him from coming to a decision in regard to legal adoption and if he will make a statement to Dáil Éireann about it.
I propose, with the Ceann Comhairle's permission, to answer Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together.
After very careful consideration of this matter, I have decided not to introduce proposals for any legislation which would provide for the irrevocable transfer of a parent's rights and duties in respect of a child to any other person.
Mr. Byrne
The Minister is aware that his announcement will come as a terrible shock to many thousands of persons who have adopted children; and that his reply will do harm to the adopted children themselves? I would ask him to reconsider the matter.
Is the Minister prepared to give the reasons which prompted him to take this decision?
I understand that there is an obligation on a Minister to give his reasons for any legislation which he introduces. There is not an obligation on a Minister to give reasons for the multiplicity of pieces of legislation which he is not prepared to introduce.
Is the Minister not aware that he undertook to introduce the legislation?
It is open to any private Deputy who feels that there should be legislation on this matter to introduce a Bill and give his reasons for it.
Then the Government will not state its mind on it?
Was the House not left under the impression by the Minister that a Bill dealing with this matter would be forthcoming in the near future?
I cannot answer for the impressions of the House.
If that is a fact, is not the House entitled to get from the Minister the reasons why he changed his mind?
That supplementary is based on an "if."
Mr. Byrne
The children concerned are future citizens of the State and are entitled to protection.