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Adoption Authority of Ireland

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021

Tuesday, 18 May 2021

Questions (583, 584, 585)

Holly Cairns

Question:

583. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an audit will be conducted into all records concerning children sent overseas for adoption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25532/21]

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Holly Cairns

Question:

584. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken in relation to new evidence discovered in Adoption Authority of Ireland records which reveals that at least 356 children in addition to the 2,132 children officially acknowledged to date were sent overseas for adoption between 1921 and 1994. [25533/21]

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Holly Cairns

Question:

585. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the attention of his Department was drawn to details from the Adoption Authority of Ireland revealing that at least 356 children in addition to the 2,132 children officially acknowledged to date were sent overseas for adoption between 1921 and 1994; the steps that were taken with this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25534/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 to 585, inclusive, together.

The issue of Irish children being adopted abroad has been in the public domain for many years, and has been extensively discussed, including in the media and in the Oireachtas.

The state papers released in 1996 contained details of children sent abroad for adoption. Following this, the Department of Health requested the Adoption Board to contact Adoption Societies to determine the extent of this practice. The responses from these Adoption Societies were passed to the Department of Health at that time.

During the recent sampling review into illegal birth registrations, the Adoption Authority of Ireland discovered a file containing this 1996 correspondence. This was brought to the attention of my Department in April 2019. My Department requested the Adoption Authority of Ireland to confirm that this material had been provided to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, which they did. A full copy of this file was also provided to the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection to assist in his work on appropriate next steps in cases of illegal birth registration.

It is acknowledged by all parties that adoption in the past was a secretive process, carried out without due respect for the rights and dignity of those involved. Such practice in adoption reflects wider societal prejudices of the time.

Today, the safeguards in the adoption acts ensure that the best interests of the child are the paramount consideration in all adoption cases, and in every step of the process. Modern day adoption legislation and practice also ensures that the rights of all involved are vindicated, including birth fathers, within the overarching framework of working for the best interests of the child involved.

Regarding the suggestion of an audit of records, I am very conscious that every record on adoption represents the lives of a number of individuals. There are major ethical issues at play where the reality, identity and family and legal relationships that people have lived their whole lives may be fundamentally undermined. I am also concerned that the records may simply not exist, to effectively revisit adoptions that have taken place.

From listening to survivors I believe that what is most important as an immediate priority is access to birth certificates and early life information for adoptees. The Deputy will be aware that I recently published proposed Birth Information and Tracing legislation, which will, for the first time, enshrine in law the right of access to birth certificates, and other birth and early life information.

This legislation, supported by a strong and supportive information and tracing service, should ensure that any individual with a question about their origins is empowered to access their own records and is supported with regard to any related needs.

Question No. 584 answered with Question No. 583.
Question No. 585 answered with Question No. 583.
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