Alan Shatter
Ceist:40 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Southern Health Board requires that when processing an adoption application before the High Court, pursuant to the Adoption Act, 1988, that the child to be adopted attend at the High Court for the High Court hearing and the Act of 1988 imposes no such requirement; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that such court attendances are very distressing for the children concerned and their proposed adoptive parents; if he will issue a directive to each health board that the attendance of children at the High Court for such adoption cases should not be required unless the Judge hearing the case asks to interview the child in chambers or asks for the child to attend at court to give evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5123/96]