Vol. 488 No. 2
67 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason he did not see fit to provide representation of the adopted person on the new Adoption Board, in view of the fact that he provided representation to the two other parties of the adoption triangle, namely, the adopting parents and the birth mothers; and if he will appoint an adopted person to the board, as a matter of urgency. [5791/98]
The role of the Adoption Board is to fulfil the functions assigned to it under the Adoption Acts, 1952-91. It is not a representative or policy making body. The Government appointed the members of the new Adoption Board in a personal capacity because of their particular expertise and-or proven interest in and experience of child welfare issues and not as representatives of any other organisation to which they may belong.
Section 8 of the Adoption Act, 1952, as amended by section 11 of the Adoption Act, 1991, provides that the Adoption Board shall consist of a chairman and eight ordinary members. All these positions have been filled.
