Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious of the efforts being made by Philomena Lee to highlight the issues relating to information on and tracing of adoptions and illegal registrations. This is an extremely sensitive matter, especially for birth mothers who may still feel the emotional conflicts associated with adoptions many years ago. I have not yet had the opportunity to meet Philomena Lee. I would welcome a meeting with her, and this has been conveyed to her in a recent meeting with the Irish ambassador in Washington. I have also written to Ms Lee inviting her to meet me at a suitable time.

I am advised that the Adoption Authority has already seen a significant increase in the number of people who are calling it in regard to information and tracing. The Authority has stated that many of these callers have cited Ms Lee as the catalyst for their call. I am grateful to Philomena for the bravery and sensitivity she has shown. She is a remarkable woman who has struggled with great courage and grace on her own behalf and on behalf of all too many single young mothers who faced a cold and brutal response when what they needed was support and understanding. I hope she takes comfort from the success she has had in having her story heard and in encouraging birth mothers to come forward.

I urge birth mothers to enrol in the National Adoption Contact Register, which was established in 2005 to assist adopted people and their natural families to make contact with each other, exchange information or state their contact preferences. I believe the register is under-used and I appeal to those concerned, whether as the adoptee or the mother who gave up her baby for adoption, to make their names and contact details known to the Adoption Authority so that they are included on the register. This is potentially an important port of call for those affected.

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