The Minister promised to look into a matter raised on Committee Stage.
Adoption Bill, 1952—Fourth and Fifth Stages.
Question proposed: "That the Bill be received for final consideration."
I did look into that matter, that is, to allow children over the age of seven who are not already informally adopted to be adopted. I got the opinion of people for whose opinion I have respect, people with a lot of experience in these matters. They think there are many children under the age of seven who are not likely to be adopted. As it is generally understood that those who are under seven have a better chance of being absorbed into the family than those over seven, that there are so many under seven who have no chance at all of being adopted, I think it would not be advisable to accept it. I have gone fully into the whole thing and that is the opinion I have come to. Otherwise I would have had an amendment down by this time. I can assure the Senator that I have looked into the matter and am perfectly satisfied that in the circumstances it is best to leave the Bill as it stands and to have only children under seven years of age. That is in the case of new adoptions. I hope the Senator will be satisfied.
I stated on Committee Stage that, I having raised the matter, the responsibility was for the Minister. Therefore I do not want to argue with him but, for fear there may be any misunderstanding—I am not pressing it —I want to say that my point dealt entirely with first year cases where the committee were satisfied that arrangements had been made for adoption but adoption had not taken place because of the Bill. I still think it is a pity that the Minister could not see his way to do it. I want the Bill to go through; I do not want to delay it and I do not want to press the matter any further. I put it to him as clearly as I could.
Question put and agreed to.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."
I would like to raise a matter dealing with certificates and to have the Minister's opinion on it. It is a very important matter. It has been discussed by the Labour Party and they are wondering if it could be engraved in this Bill or, otherwise, if it could be engraved in amending legislation in connection with vital statistics.
I could not introduce it at this stage into this Bill. It would not fit into this Bill at all.
Would you mind if I give a short explanation of the matter I have in mind?
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The Senator cannot do that on this stage.
Question put and agreed to.