- The Iona Institute - https://ionainstitute.ie -

Proposed law to enable some people a right to access birth data

New legislation to give adopted people the right to access their birth information will be published next month, the Cabinet has been told.

This contrasts with a High Court ruling last week that dismissed concerns raised by the Adoption Authority of Ireland about whether an international adoption after a commercial surrogacy arrangement could be registered without reference to a child’s birth and genetic mothers.

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman received Cabinet approval on Tuesday to progress the Birth Information and Tracing Bill.

The tracing legislation was promised by Mr O’Gorman following the report by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation earlier this year.

It will, for the first time, give adopted people the right to their birth certificates with the name of their birth mother, as well as documentation from their early lives.

The proposed legislation will allow adopted people to access records related to their own identity. The information covered includes birth certificates, birth, early life, care and medical information and other items.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/proposed-law-to-enable-adopted-people-to-access-birth-data-1.4761491