Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Tóibín and I will speak for five minutes each. I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I thank the Deputies who brought it forward. I will be supporting it.

When dealing with such sensitive issues, it is of the utmost importance to listen to those who are affected most by whatever the issue happens to be. In this case, I have listened to adoptees and read numerous emails from them since being elected. They outline the difficulties they face in their lives due to the absence of their biological family history, particularly when it comes to healthcare and health-related issues.

Most of us will be familiar with the procedure of going to a doctor or dentist and having to fill out a medical history form. Quite often, these forms ask if any hereditary conditions are likely to or have already developed. Unfortunately, we all know too well that a cohort of people in this country are unable to answer such questions due to an absence of information about biological parents.

Let me share with the House two examples of testimonies from people who have contacted me on the issue. Gerry is 57 years old. He said:

I am now 57 years old and have had some major health problems. I cannot get any medical history which has greatly impeded my progress. I have been out of work for nearly 20 years due to the above. The lack of right to my records has had a detrimental impact on my life. We had to sell our house in Dublin and move to try and make ends meet.

I have battled alcoholism, depression and health problems a lot of which were stress related. The constant battle with various State agencies have worn me down and unfortunately I don’t think the passing of the Bill will have much effect on my situation. It may help younger people to avoid the pitfalls I have encountered and hopefully give them a better life.

Seamus wrote:

The past few weeks have been very difficult for adoptees, birth parents and survivors. Following the publication of the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into Mother and Baby Homes, there has been revelation after revelation about how adoptees in particular are denied access to their own identity. We have failed adoptees for too long, we need to make it right. This is not about party or politics, this is about doing right by a cohort long denied the most basic of knowledge of themselves. Please support this Bill so we can begin to address the wrongs of the past. Thank you.

I intend to support the Bill. The two testimonies from which I read outline the need for this Bill much better than anything I could have said. These are stories from people who have had to live with the present situation. These people know that the legislation needs to be passed for the system to change.

We must also recognise the links between adoptees and the issues surrounding the mother and baby homes. I understand that not every adoptee was linked to a mother and baby home but there is a crossover to a great extent. Suffice to say, adoptees played no part in the decisions that put them in this position. If we want to right at least one of the wrongs perpetrated on adoptees and their mothers, we need to start by allowing access to birth records.

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