Ms Mary Slattery:

I thank the Chairman. We in Know My Own in Cork appreciate the opportunity to address the committee on the heads of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2015. We thank the committee for the invitation to be here and congratulate the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Reilly on bringing this legislation forward. We also wish to acknowledge all of those in the Minister’s office who drafted this Bill because the layman’s user-friendly language in a relatively long Bill made our preparation easier.

It is our opinion that “compelling reasons” must be copper-fastened in legislation. I listened to presentations made here last week and was shocked to think that the compelling reasons could rest in the hands of a social worker, those will be operating the legislation and a birth mother. It cannot be like that. I am a birth mother and have come a long way in my journey, which has not been easy, so I understand secrecy and shame. I have been there. The mother’s secrecy is not a strong enough compelling reason. The only compelling reason has to be backed up with medical evidence. The one that I can see to back it up is risk of suicide. If the medical evidence is that the mother is at serious risk of suicide, that would be a strong enough compelling reason but it would have to be copper-fastened. It is important for the adoptees to have the right to information. While a birth mother may get a huge shock when she receives the letter but she knew in her heart of hearts that she had been pregnant, no woman forgets that. She might not remember the date but she does not forget being pregnant because she changed physically and knows that she has given birth. The shock of the letter is fully understandable but the compelling reason has to be copper-fastened as suicidal risk.