Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 April 2019
311. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the final report on illegal birth registrations will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15803/19]
View answerI had expected that the final report of the review of a sample of adoption records being overseen by the Independent Reviewer Marion Reynolds would be submitted to me by Easter. I have just received a third interim report from Ms. Reynolds dated 1 April informing me that this will now be delayed to end May. I understand that the reason for the delay is that the fieldwork being carried out by both Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland, which is now reaching a conclusion, is complex, forensic and resource intensive, and has taken longer than anticipated.
The two previous interim reports from the Reviewer have been published on my Department's website. The purpose of this review, which I initiated following the discovery of cases of illegal registrations in the St. Patrick’s Guild records, is to determine if similar evidence of illegal birth registrations can be identified from the records of other former adoption agencies and other relevant bodies.
The final report and its findings will provide information to assist me in identifying any necessary next steps.
