Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 5

Written Answers. - Adoption Orders.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

96 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is the practice of the Adoption Board, before the granting of an adoption order in respect of a child, to ensure that proof of identity is ascertained of the person consenting to the adoption; if a cross reference of these details is made to ensure that identical information is registered on that child's original birth entry contained in the register of live births maintained by the Registrar General; and, if not, the reason in this regard. [14558/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Fahey)

Before an adoption order is made a copy of the original birth certificate is supplied to the Adoption Board giving details of the birth mother and her child. The birth mother is also interviewed by an authorised person to ensure that she is giving a free and informed consent to the adoption. The birth mother is counselled prior to making a sworn affidavit before a Commissioner for Oaths, at which time her identity is also verified by the social worker involved in the case.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

97 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 391 of 21 April 1998 where he stated the information sought was confidential and he was not in a position to supply the statistical information requested, the number of adoption orders granted from 1953 to date in relation to children born outside the Republic of Ireland; and the way in which he can reconcile this statement with his response to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 9 July 1997 where information he classed as confidential was provided for a slightly shorter period. [14559/98]

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

98 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 391 of 21 April 1998 regarding the number of adoption orders granted in relation to children born outside the Republic of Ireland, his attention has been drawn to the fact that the information sought is specific information and is not contained in the Adoption Board's annual report; and if, in view of this, he will provide details of the number of adoption orders granted in respect of children born outside this State from 1952 to date, by year and country of origin. [14560/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Fahey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together.

Having examined the replies to the previous parliamentary questions referred to by the Deputy I am at a loss to understand their relevance to the information now being sought. As I have explained on earlier occasions, statistical data relating to adoption is a matter for the Adoption Board. I understand that this information is contained in the board's annual reports from 1985 onwards and I have asked the registrar of the Adoption Board to forward the details to the Deputy.

Unfortunately, information on the number of orders which were granted in respect of children born outside the State prior to 1985 is not readily available. Due to pressure of work it is not feasible to allocate the board's limited staffing resources to going through all the individual files in order to extract the relevant details.