Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the progression of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28510/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 has passed Second Stage in the Seanad and it is my intention is that the Bill will be enacted by the end of the year. In order to progress the Bill, and proceeding to Committee Stage, I recently met with advocacy groups and with Oireachtas colleagues, which was informative and helpful. I have also arranged to meet with the Attorney General and his officials to discuss how we can move forward with this legislation.  

It is essential that the Bill progresses as quickly as possible, as it places the information and tracing service on a statutory footing for the first time. 

It will also protect relevant records by bringing them into the custody of the Adoption Authority of Ireland. It will create offences for the concealment, destruction, mutilation or falsification of such records. 

Officials are currently reviewing the Bill, in the light of the recent evidence emerging on illegal birth registrations, to ensure that it is robust in addressing this issue. If additional amendments to the Bill are required to ensure this, this can be addressed as the Bill progresses through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

I look forward to engaging with members of this House and of the Seanad so that all of us who wish to see this Bill implemented as soon as possible can work together to achieve this.