Ms Christine Hennessy:

I think Ms Connolly would like me to answer that question on behalf of Barnardos. The question was about how long we think an adopted adult should be given to consider whether he or she would like to avail of an advisory session on being told his or her birth mother has registered a no-contact option. I would suggest that decision is discretionary according to the needs of the adopted adult concerned. Some adopted adults may immediately feel they do not wish to have an information session. In that case, as we said in our submission, there should be no barrier to that adopted adult receiving his or her original birth certificate. Some may, however, receive that information with great sadness and shock and should be given a discretionary period to think about whether they would like to get some professional support or advice to consider their response. I would, therefore, suggest discretionary action would be the best way to proceed.