Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
788. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to ensure that dioceses and parishes in the Roman Catholic Church are fulfilling their obligations under the Birth Information and Tracing Bill. [55426/22]
View answerTo achieve the safeguarding of records, the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 places an obligation on any person, body, or organisation who is in possession of a relevant record to maintain and safeguard the relevant record and to inform the Adoption Authority of Ireland of the existence of the record.
Furthermore, under the legislation it is an offence to conceal, destroy, mutilate, or falsify relevant records. This offence carries a penalty of up to 3 years in prison and/or a fine of up to €50,000. Offences shall be reported to An Garda Síochána for investigation.
The Birth Information and Tracing Act also enables the Adoption Authority of Ireland to direct any person, body or organisation in possession of a relevant record or a secondary information source to transfer a relevant record to it, where the transfer is in the public interest.
For the purpose of delivering tracing services, the legislation provides that the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency may request information from a number of bodies, including a diocese or parish of the Roman Catholic Church, for the purposes of conducting a trace, and the body shall comply with this request.
The Act is now commenced in full and these provisions are in force.
