Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 3

Written Answers. - Adoption Legislation.

Joan Burton

Question:

374 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the provision contained in the Civil Registration Bill 2003 to repeal section 22 of the Adoption Act 1952; the way in which he can reconcile this with the fact that proposals concerning this specific section of adoption legislation are contained in the adoption legislation consultation, which is not yet complete, as proposed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23220/03]

Joan Burton

Question:

375 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children if the attention of his Department was drawn to the provision contained in the Civil Registration Bill 2003 to repeal section 22 of the Adoption Act 1952; the way in which his Department can reconcile this with the fact that proposals concerning this specific section of adoption legislation are contained in the adoption legislation consultation, which is not yet complete, as proposed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23221/03]

Joan Burton

Question:

376 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention was drawn to the provision contained in the Civil Registration Bill 2003 to merge the indexes of the adopted children's register with the foreign adopted children's register and in doing so removing them from the public record; the way in which he can reconcile this with the fact that proposals concerning this specific section of adoption legislation are contained in the adoption legislation consultation, which is not yet complete, as proposed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23222/03]

Joan Burton

Question:

377 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children further to the provisions contained in the Civil Registration Bill 2003 to merge the indexes of the adopted children's register with the foreign adopted children's register, and in doing so, removing them from the public record, his views on whether this contradicts his publicly stated goal of openness and transparency in his proposed post-adoption contract and associated issues Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23223/03]

Joan Burton

Question:

388 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether his adoption consultation process is being undermined by the publication of the Civil Registration Bill 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23314/03]

Joan Burton

Question:

390 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to current, proposed or intended administrative, regulatory or legislative changes to current adoption practice, procedure or legislation by his or any other Department or State agency. [23316/03]

Joan Burton

Question:

391 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that issues for consideration in the adoption legislation consultation process, which is not yet complete and which was established by the Minister of the State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, are being circumvented by the introduction of the Civil Registration Bill 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23317/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 377, inclusive, 388, 390 and 391 together.

Earlier this year I initiated a consultation process on adoption legislation to give interested groups and individuals the opportunity to comment on existing and proposed adoption legislation. The next stage of the process is an oral consultation which is being held within the next two weeks. One of the many issues being dealt with in the course of the consultation process is access to post-adoption information. I am well aware that the consultation process may have implications for the Civil Registration Bill 2003 referred to by the Deputy.