Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2012
97. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, in relation to the promised Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and access to records by adult victims of illegal adoptions, she will ensure that the rights of the person, against whom a crime has been committed, to establish their identity shall supersede any claimed constitutional right to privacy of any other person. [56669/12]
View answer98. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will publish a list of the known location of adoption records and ensure that these records are immediately protected and secured. [56668/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together.
I refer to my Department's response to the Deputy's question No. 18 (Ref. 46753/12) of 25th October last which answers the questions raised here.
As stated, it is then intended that the Heads of Bill will provide that the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) is to have responsibility for ensuring that access to those records is provided to an adopted person or to a birth parent, in accordance with the Bill. As all persons have a constitutional right to privacy it is envisaged that there may be some restrictions on the information that could be made available without the consent of the parties involved.
The draft legislation on information and tracing envisages the AAI having responsibility for the registering of all adoption records. In that context the AAI will coordinate the records and their location in due course.
