State urged to help adoptees and natural parents
He said the State assists people in tracing their natural parents. “However, when their is a reunion there is no assistance or advice available to either party to guide them through the difficulties and trauma they experience,” he added.
He felt this whole area was neglected by relevant Government departments.
“We should have a counselling service that has researched, experienced and understands the various stages an adopted person takes from the time that he or she decided to research, meet and develop a relationship with his or her natural mother,” he said.
Difficulties, he said, are experienced by both adopted person and natural mother when they meet.
Mr Neville said: “I recently spoke with a man who successfully traced his natural mother and was introduced to her with the State’s assistance. However, he was left at that stage with no assistance or advice available to either party.
“It is a very difficult time for natural parents and adopted children alike. There are many areas in need of counselling services, of which this is one.”
He said adopted people beginning to research their natural parents should also be trained to deal with the difficulties they will experience. Mr Neville said that some adopted people feel that the person dealing with them should also be adopted so as to create a greater understanding.
“I know of a person who went to Dublin to trace his mother only to be informed that the mother had not consented and the name was not available. When the same person went to the (adoption) agency in County Cork to get the name he was told his natural mother was anxious to meet him. There needs to be an examination of the co-ordination of information in this area,” Mr Neville added.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said Minister of State Brian Lenihan was bringing proposals to the government and the issue of counselling would be dealt with.
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