Teachta Browne said:
“I am completely dismayed the Minister, once again has not listened to adoptees, mothers or their
advocates.
“What I find most disappointing is the deliberate ploy by Government to spin the announcement as
a win for adoptees and mothers in Tipperary, but the reality is this is no win. The reality is they have
not been listened too.
“The announcement should have marked an historic moment for adoptees in the long and
exhausting journey they have travelled, in gaining full and unfettered access to their records and
birth information – but again they have been met with another government bill that will not deliver.
“I am particularly disappointed around the requirement for mandatory information sessions, on
initial glance it seems that this provision has been removed. But on further inspection it appears the
only thing that has changed is the mechanism by which this ‘meeting’ takes place. Bearing in mind
that no other Irish citizen making a similar application would be obliged to go through this process.
“I am extremely concerned red line issues for adoptees, which the Minister and Government are
very aware off, such as unrestricted access to birth certificates and information have not been
provided for.
“I cannot comprehend how key recommendations from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on
Children’s report, have not factored at all in the redrafting of this legislation.
“The extensive work undertaken by the committee, the hours and hours of testimony from
adoptees, mothers, survivors and their advocates; the significant and all-encompassing report and
comprehensive consultation all appears to have been in vain, and I believe makes a mockery of the
committee and its work.
“It is clear from what the Minister announced, that this fight is just beginning. I know that Sinn Féin’s
Spokesperson on Children Kathleen Funchion who has been outstanding in advocating on behalf of
adoptees, mothers and survivors will not be found wanting. She is committed to ensuring that all
adoptees and mothers are included, listened too and their wishes acted on.
“The bill will now come before the same Oireachtas Children’s Committee, and it goes without
saying that the devil will be in the detail and it will take time to dig down into this bill. I would like to
take this opportunity to assure adoptees, mothers and their advocates living in Co Tipperary that I
and my colleagues in Sinn Féin will work to ensure this legislation upholds their human rights.
“Finally, I’d like to commend all adoptees, mothers, survivors, their families and advocates in
Tipperary for their unending and relentless pursuit of justice. It is a little over 20 years since the first
piece of legislation was introduced to allow access to one’s adoptive and birth information files. It is
timely that we remember the Government at the times started this journey seeking to criminalise
adoptees for seeking their information.
Their journey and fight continues.”
