Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 December 2018
22. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress being made to identify cases of illegal or incorrect adoption registrations; the steps taken to inform the person identified as being illegally or incorrectly registered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52312/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the discovery by Tusla of evidence of illegal birth registrations in the St. Patrick's Guild files, I initiated a review of adoption records to determine if similar evidence of illegal registration could be identified from the records of other former adoption agencies and other relevant bodies.
A targeted review of adoption records in the custody of the State (i.e. in the custody of Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland) is being carried out in the first instance owing to the volume of files involved. This review will provide information to assist me to reach a decision about what, if any, subsequent action might be established to identify more fully the scale of illegal registration. It is not possible at this stage to anticipate the type of information that will emerge from the review. Given the sensitive personal data contained in the files, data protection and GDPR issues have arisen, which have delayed the review, but these have now been addressed and the final report of the review is expected to be submitted to me before Easter 2019.Regarding the illegal registrations identified in the St Patrick's Guild files, Tusla is continuing the process of notifying the subjects of illegal registration. Tusla social workers are supporting these individuals as they deal with the news that they are subjects of illegal registration. The information that an illegal birth registration has taken place is potentially life changing and the State has a responsibility to reach a high level of certainty that this has in fact happened before it contacts the individuals concerned. I am keeping the situation continuously under review.
