“Adoption loss: the only situation where the victims are expected by the whole of society to be grateful”. Reverend Keith C Griffith.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, is attempting to rush through the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill before the summer recess. The Bill has been rejected by all groups representing adopted people (including the Collaborative Forum convened by the Minister). The speed and the Bill itself is distressing for adopted people and further alienates a minority who are denied birth information, birth certs and family medical histories.

We have been told to be patient during Marriage Equality, Repeal and now Brexit; that our time will come. We have been waiting all our lives and while we wait this form of legislative bullying happens.

The Bill will give the State Agency Tusla the power to automatically locate and contact both birth parents before the release of birth certificates and adoption records to adopted people. It is an unprecedented amount of state interference in what is essentially a private family matter.

If there is an objection to the release of records by a birth parent, the adopted person will be required to attend a hearing at the Adoption Authority of Ireland, which is, again, huge interference and wholly discriminatory.

Adopted people must be given full access to their birth certificates and birth records just like every other citizen in Ireland and not continue to be subjected to State restrictions.

The Adoption (Information and Tracing Bill) must be scrapped and I am calling on the LGBTQI Community to support us in our fight.

Please, please raise your voices NOW and click on this link below to contact Minister Zappone, TDs and Senators, expressing your concerns about this Bill using the above points.

View more information and ways to take action here.