Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 28 September 2021
Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth
General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed)
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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When a mother has a concern about the accuracy of information on a file, I believe that will be addressed through the existing processes and, in particular, the subject access request. I am aware there is a fear among some mothers that something inaccurate or, indeed, derogatory about them may have been put on their file at the time of the adoption about their own circumstances. There is an avenue to access that file through the subject access request and to correct that file through the right to rectification under GDPR. In terms of the rights of mothers, they can ensure that when their child seeks that file, something incorrect or untrue that might undermine the mother in the eyes of the child is not on the file, because they can have it rectified. That is why we are not looking to this legislation to address that issue because we believe it is provided for under GDPR. At present, mothers have access to their own file. I hope that answers the Senator's question.