Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
539. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of meetings he has had with Tusla concerning the birth information and tracing Bill 2022 since taking office. [11106/22]
View answer540. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of meetings he has had with the Adoption Authority of Ireland concerning the birth information and tracing Bill 2022 since taking office. [11107/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 540 together.
In June 2021, I established the Birth Information and Tracing Implementation Group. This group is led by my Department, and includes representatives from the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The group meets on a regular basis, having held 8 meetings to date, whilst also progressing key pieces of work and liaising bilaterally between meetings.
The Group's focus is on organisational and system readiness to support the provision of services under the proposed Birth Information and Tracing legislation. Included in the Group's work is the development of draft policy guidelines to support robust and consistent implementation of the legislation.
In addition to the Implementation Group, the Department also engages with both the Adoption Authority and Tusla through regular governance and oversight meetings, where matters relating to the Birth Information and Tracing Bill are often discussed.
Officials in my Department have strong working relationships with their counterparts in the Authority and Tusla. This is central to the positive commitment and collaboration which is essential to successful implementation of the legislation in the interests of all those with questions on their origins.
As Minister, I have met with the Chair of the Adoption Authority of Ireland on three occasions. These meetings have all included discussion of information and tracing. I meet with Tusla on a quarterly basis. Four of these meetings have taken place since July 2020. Issues relating to information and tracing legislation are discussed at these meetings as required.
