Vol. 474 No. 4
97 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, he has made in formulating legislation in order that a national contact register to assist adopted persons and birth parents to reestablish contact may be set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3290/97]
The establishment of a comprehensive legal framework for post-adoption contact between birth parents and adopted persons and access to birth records is a priority of the Government. It is my firm intention that the necessary enabling legislation will be brought forward as quickly as possible after a number of legal and constitutional issues have been clarified.
In the meantime, I am proceeding with arrangements for the establishment of an adoption contact register to assist adoptees and birth mothers who wish to be put in touch with one another. As the contact register will be voluntary in nature and will only pertain to those adoptees and birth mothers who have expressed a desire to make contact with one another, no legislation is required and I intend to proceed with its establishment on an administrative basis. My Department is currently developing proposals in this regard.
