Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
595. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans in relation to progressing the rights of adopted persons to access personal birth information and files; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3052/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to the enactment of the Adoption ( Information & Tracing) Bill 2016.
This important legislation will give adopted people, people who have been the subject of an illegal birth registration, birth parents and relevant guardians a statutory right to an information and tracing service. It also provides that relevant records will be maintained by the Adoption Authority of Ireland.
The Bill must operate within the current constitutional framework and must seek to balance the rights to identity and to privacy, which may sometimes be in conflict. However, the Bill operates on the basis of a presumption in favour of disclosing information in so far as is legally and constitutionally possible. I am continuing to actively explore all options in relation to facilitating the release of as much information as possible to adopted and other relevant persons and will introduce any necessary amendments at Committee Stage.
It is my intention to progress to Committee Stage of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 in the Seanad Éireann as quickly as possible.
