Vital adoption reforms delayed

Adoption tracing and information legislation cited as a “priority” by successive governments since 1997 has been delayed again.

Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald had said previously that an Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill was being prepared and would be brought before the Oireachtas before the end of last year. However, she has now said this legislation will be before the Dáil some time this year.

Despite adoption support groups for decades calling for full access to adoption records, Ms Fitzgerald said the Government had to deal with constitutional issues around privacy and a Supreme Court ruling that said the mother’s right to privacy would have to be balanced against the adopted person’s right to know.