Written answers

Friday, 7 September 2018

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Adoption Records Provision

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1180. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether as a civil and human right, adopted persons that are now adults should have full access to adoption records and files; when she will proceed with legislation to provide for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36983/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am keenly aware of the importance of identity and of the significance for adopted people of access to their adoption records and early life information. 

The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016, which, as the Deputy knows, passed Second Stage in the Seanad last year, will for the first time give adopted persons and other relevant individuals, birth parents and relatives a statutory right to an information and tracing service. The Bill provides for all adoption records to be brought into the custody of the State and will create offences for the concealment, destruction, mutilation or falsification of such records. It recognises the fundamental importance of access to adoption records and information for adopted persons and for their families into the future and is based on a presumption in favour of disclosing information in so far as is legally and constitutionally possible. 

I have been clear that my intention is that the Bill will be enacted by the end of the year. 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.

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