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

To be clear, my starting point in respect of this legislation has been to provide as much information as possible. I believe the concept of open adoption is the way forward. I emphasise that in the case of future adoptions in this country I want this legislation to deal with that aspect and to provide for that information to be available. In the case of historical adoptions we will examine the legislation and ensure it will go as far as is possible. Where there are barriers, it may be possible, for example, to have a provision that would give access in certain circumstances, perhaps through the High Court, to the right to information. I will be bound and I am bound - the committee will see this as we discuss the legislation - to provide for a balancing between the strong constitutional provision relating to privacy and the right to identity. I take Deputy Daly's point that from the child's perspective or that of the adult who was adopted, access to as much information as possible is where we want to be.

Considerable work has been done. The heads of the Bill are close to completion and I hope they will go to the committee subsequently. I cannot give Deputy Daly an exact timetable because we received some legal advice in February and we must take account of that and build it into the heads of the Bill. I am keen to ensure the heads of the Bill are as clear as they possibly can be in order that the issues at the cutting edge, as described by Deputy Daly, can be dealt with most effectively and understood in committee.

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