Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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595. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans in relation to progressing the rights of adopted persons to access personal birth information and files; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3052/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am committed to the enactment of the Adoption ( Information & Tracing) Bill 2016.

This important legislation will give adopted people, people who have been the subject of an illegal birth registration, birth parents and relevant guardians a statutory right to an information and tracing service.  It also provides that relevant records will be maintained by the Adoption Authority of Ireland.

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.

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.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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596. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of cases of irregular or false registrations of adopted persons that have been identified; the number of persons affected who have been contacted; the number of persons who have been unable to be contacted; the reason therefore; her plans to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3053/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am committed to the process of notifying people who are affected by illegal registrations identified on the files of St. Patrick's Guild and providing these individuals with as much information as possible regarding their identity.

Tusla social workers are supporting these individuals as they deal with the news that they have been illegally registered at birth. The information that an illegal birth registration has taken place is potentially life changing and the State has a responsibility to reach a high level of certainty that this has in fact happened before it contacts the individuals concerned.  This threshold was reached in the 126 cases which Tusla are dealing with.

The progress made regarding contacting those affected is a matter for Tusla and the process is still ongoing. The Deputy will be aware that the process of contacting people in these circumstances is a sensitive and complex one and the pace must respect the wishes of the individual involved.

The Deputy will also be aware that I initiated a review of adoption records to determine if similar evidence of illegal registration could be identified from the records of other former adoption agencies and other relevant bodies as was identified in the St. Patrick's Guild files.

It is not possible at this stage to anticipate the type of information that will emerge from the review. Given the sensitive personal data contained in the files, data protection and GDPR issues have arisen, which have delayed the review, but these have now been addressed and the final report of the review is expected to be submitted to me before Easter 2019.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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597. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of a society (details supplied); if she was consulted regarding the liquidation of the society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3054/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I understand that St. Patrick's Guild Adoption Society ceased operations in December 2014.  Its records were transferred to Tusla in May 2016. This has ensured that the relevant records are safeguarded and can be accessed for information and tracing services.

The liquidation or otherwise of the Society is not a matter for the Minister. The Society is no longer an accredited body under the Adoption Act 2010.