Retention and adoption legislation
Bernard Durkan asks about legislation preserving institutional-abuse records and establishing adoption tracing services. The Taoiseach says the records Bill is likely next year and constitutional privacy issues may delay the adoption Bill until 2014.
On promised legislation, I wish to inquire into the proposal to bring to the House as early as possible the retention of records Bill, which covers the commission on child abuse, the residential redress board and the Residential Institutions Review Committee. Their records are important, given the subject matters concerned. Have its heads been discussed and when is the Bill likely to be before the House?
The adoption (tracing and information) Bill will provide for an information and tracing service to applicants seeking information about adoptions on a statutory basis. This is equally important promised legislation. Is it anticipated to be before the House at an early date and, if so, when?
Comment on this
The heads of the Deputy's first request have not been cleared by Government yet, so that will be next year before that comes through. In respect of the adoption Bill, I understand from the Minister that there are quite a number of constitutional issues, mostly relating to privacy, that have been raised. They have to be dealt with before it can proceed further. So, we are probably talking about 2014 as well.