Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides for the release of information to all relevant persons, that is individuals who were adopted, boarded out, nursed out, the subject of an illegal birth registration, or resided as a child in one of the institutions listed in the Schedule. The Schedule as included in the Act was based on the list of institutions that were investigated as part of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.

Section 5 of the Act enables me as Minister to add to the list in the event that new evidence comes forward to suggest the historical existence of further institutions which should be included. The inclusion of this section mitigates the risk of anyone being excluded from the definition of "relevant person" set out in the Act. To date, no further institutions have been identified for addition to the Schedule.

Furthermore, Part 7 of the Act provides for the safeguarding of records. It mandates that any person or body in possession of relevant records under the Act must retain and maintain them, and inform the Adoption Authority of their nature. Where it is in the public interest to do so, the Adoption Authority may request the transfer of those records into its care. This will ensure that relevant records which may be held by other institutions can be accessed to release information. Relevant records are being identified and transferred into the care of the Authority on an ongoing basis.