Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
549. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will grant survivors of mother and baby homes immediate access to their birth certificates and records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3756/21]
View answerI know the absolute importance of access to birth certificates and early life information for adoptees. Addressing this issue is a key part of the Government's Action Plan in response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. It is a priority for myself, the Attorney and the Taoiseach.
My Department and I are engaging intensively with the Attorney General to find a solution to the issue of release of birth information based on GDPR, which protects an individual's right to their personal information. Through this engagement with the Attorney General regarding the proposed information and tracing legislation, I am hopeful that we will have Heads of Bill by end March or early April.
The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation will stand dissolved in law on 28 February 2021 and is due to submit its archive of records to myself as the specified Minister by that date.
My Department is working intensively to ensure that it is properly resourced to handle subject access requests from possibly very large numbers of people who were resident in mother and baby homes. In this regard, a new Unit has been established to look after this hugely important and potentially significant volume of work.
There is a considerable amount of work to enable the transfer of the Commission's databases and records. Furthermore, there is considerable preparatory work being undertaken to establish systems and procedures to prepare for the potentially large number of subject access requests which may be made and to ensure that they can be managed in a timely and effective manner. This involves the engagement of suitable in-house expertise, consultation with the Attorney General and the Data Protection Commission.
Department officials are dedicating significant efforts to ensuring the Department is prepared for the transfer of the archives and for the handling of subject access requests in compliance with data protection law.
