Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. My response will be somewhat similar to my response to the point she made about vaccines. Much of what she is seeking to address in the amendment is covered under the definition of “early life information”. That is where the matter is most appropriately addressed. The various pieces of information provided for under early life information, include, in paragraphs (g) to (k), inclusive, information on any medical treatments, procedures or vaccinations administered to him or her; information on the duration of the period during which his or her mother remained with him or her; information on whether he or she left the place referred to with, or separately from, his or her mother; information on whether any person, whether a parent or other genetic relative, visited or inquired after him or her; information on whether any person made arrangements for the adoption of the person, whether or not an adoption was effected in respect of him or her; and, where an adoption was effected, the name of each of the adoptive parents.

There is therefore a substantial amount of information provided under the early life category that deals with those issues of care of the individual. It is worth remembering that in each of the information categories, namely, birth information and early life information, the term “and includes” is used in respect of list. As such, the list is not definitive but it includes those as categories under which information can be released.

As the Senator knows, I will be producing guidelines in respect of the application of the legislation by the various bodies. Central to these guidelines will be a presumption of release. The fact that one particular piece of information is not necessarily listed under early life information or care information does not preclude its release by a body in the future. I believe the vast majority of what the Senator proposes in her amendment on care information is already provided for release under early life information.