Cautious welcome to work on adoption law

THE Government’s confirmation that work has started on tracing and information legislation for adopted people and natural parents has a received a cautious welcome from adoption support groups.

Speaking at the introduction of the new Adoption Act which took effect at the beginning of the month, Minister for Children Barry Andrews confirmed work had begun on preparing legislation in conjunction with the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI).

Chairman of the AAI Geoffrey Shannon also stressed the need for a separate piece of legislation to deal with the issue of tracing and information and acknowledged “the huge importance in the preservation of one’s identity and access to birth records”.