Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 2

Written Answers. - Adoption Orders.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

142 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children when the procedure regarding the cross referencing of the proof of identity of the person consenting to an adoption with the information contained in the child's original birth certificate, which he outlined in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 17 June 1998, was put in place; whether it is possible for an adoption order to proceed if these two pieces of information are not identical; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15537/98]

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

A child's birth certificate has to be produced to the Adoption Board as one of the formal proofs required before an adoption order is made. When the board receives the birth mother's consent to an adoption the details are cross referenced with the details on the child's birth certificate. If the two pieces of information are not identical the matter would be investigated by the Adoption Board.

The authorised person procedure referred to in my previous reply was introduced following a High Court decision in the M. and M. v An Bord Uchtala, referred to as the McL case. The ensuing Adoption Act, 1976, empowered the Adoption Board to use authorised persons for the purpose of interviewing birth mothers.