Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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237. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016; and the timeframe for the Bill to progress to Committee Stage. [1928/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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It is the Minister’s intention to progress to Committee Stage of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 in the Seanad Éireann as quickly as possible.

This is an important piece of legislation as it provides adopted people and other relevant people with statutory rights to information and to a tracing service. It will also protect relevant records by bringing them into the custody of the Adoption Authority of Ireland and it will create offences for the concealment, destruction, mutilation or falsification of such records.

The Bill must operate within the current constitutional framework and must seek to balance the rights to identity and to privacy, which may sometimes be in conflict. However, the Bill operates on the basis of a presumption in favour of disclosing information in so far as is legally and constitutionally possible. I am continuing to actively explore all options in relation to facilitating the release of as much information as possible to adopted and other relevant persons and will introduce any necessary amendments at Committee Stage.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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238. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration has been given to amendments of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016, the scope of the amendments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1929/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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It is my intention to progress to Committee Stage of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 in the Seanad Éireann as quickly as possible.

It is intended that a number of Government amendments will be proposed at Committee Stage or Report Stage. These are still being finalised.

Some of these amendments seek to address concerns raised about elements of the Bill during the debate on Second Stage in the Seanad and by advocates and lobby groups. I am continuing to actively explore all options in relation to facilitating the release of as much birth information as possible to adopted and other relevant persons.

In addition, my Department is consulting with the Data Protection Commissioner to determine if amendments are required to ensure compliance with the GDPR.