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Proposed Birth Information & Tracing Bill 2021

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 7,797 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    It looks like the right to get your birth cert might actually now happen.


    The Children's Minister is to make significant concessions on a Bill to give adopted people access to birth certificates and other personal information after hearing from those impacted.

    Roderic O'Gorman is looking to drop a requirement that those looking for personal information must attend an information session conducted by a social worker in cases where their natural mother does not want contact.

    While an information session will still be a component of "breaking the link between the release of information and any subsequent contact as a result of that release", Mr O'Gorman has decided that this meeting can happen virtually and no longer will have to be conducted by a social worker.

    "Even where a mother has registered an opposition to the release of her name; it will be released in all cases following an information session. That is the enormous change that this proposed Bill brings," he will tell committee members of the Oireachtas Children's Committee on Tuesday.

    https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40706777.html?fbclid=IwAR2UJpuwkZ4WsABpc-iFRt5i_otIZ-xYNxv89k2YGgnJ2deC8oz8wlfAVX8



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,731 ✭✭✭mrslancaster


    Didn't ROG promise that legislation about information and tracing for adopted people would be passed before the end of this year?

    That's looking unlikely with another delay on the cards for anyone affected, as two GDPR legal experts said that parts of ROG's proposed bill are not legal, and the drafters need to go back to the drawing board.

    Rights of people who were adopted still being put on the long finger.

    Birth tracing bill is superfluous to existing GDPR rights, lawyers say

    https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2021/11-november/birth-tracing-bill-is-superfluous-to-existing-gdpr-rights-lawyers-say

    Solicitors point to ‘error of approach’ in drafting of Bill



  • Registered Users Posts: 7,797 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    Theres now going to be some sort of body to allow tracing to natural parents/ siblings/ children and access to the original birth cert

    The idiotic proposal to only allow information access through a social worker (seriously, what class of space cadet came up with that one!) is also to be scrapped.




  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,291 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    A major step in the right direction if this finally comes to pass.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,731 ✭✭✭mrslancaster




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  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,291 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    Never thought I'd see the day.

    Today the President signed the Birth Information and Tracing Bill into law.

    It's far from perfect but it's world away from anything we've had to deal with up until now.

    https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/0701/1307901-birth-information/

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,731 ✭✭✭mrslancaster


    Not personally affected by this but it's great to see this being passed after so many years campaiging by the various groups who were trying to bring our antiquated adoption laws into the 21st century. Those people who were adopted or had their birth certs falsified will be able to access their own personal information now, everyone has a right to know who they are.



  • Registered Users Posts: 7,797 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    this is the website to add/ manage your info / request

    I am still half shocked that they agreed to anything.

    In the period from the peak of semi forced/ cajoled adoptions they have legalised divorce, contraception, abortion, homosexuality, same sex marriage, the country has had 2 female presidents followed by a socialist poet, the country has gone from mass-going to very much not mass-going, from 99% irish to a quite multicultural country, the country has changed massively but somehow this was a change that the government or civil service has had a massive inexplainable unwillingness to change in a proper and transparent way.

    And its not as if it can be for fear of getting sued. FFS, they are finding billions to allow house owners to rebuild mansions built with dodgy concrete. Any financial hit on the state being involved in illegal adoptions would be miniscule in comparison.

    It just makes no sense, unless theres darker forces at work (civil servants/ politicans/ advisors with a crisis pregnancy in the late 70s at an age of about 20 would be retired in the past few years .... so is it a simple coincidence that suddenly theres progress on adoption rights now ???)

    Anyhow , beggars cant be choosers and when second class citizens get some rights you have to grab it when its there.



  • Registered Users Posts: 537 ✭✭✭Apothic_Red


    Bit of a fanfare about this going live today. I'd already logged in months ago & uploaded my data. Had one email back looking for my drivers licence but that's been it. Now the waiting begins.



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,047 ✭✭✭tuisginideach


    4 categories of relevant person are listed but I can't see a category allowing the child of a (now deceased) person to trace - am I missing something?



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  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,291 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    A good day for adoptees.

    I lodged my application yesterday, and while I don't expect any new information beyond what I've already found out through my own trace, it will mean a lot to finally get copies of what I received before without the redactions.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,291 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    Hi tuisginideach,

    Go to birthinfo.ie and click What options do I have?

    Then click a daughter or son or other next of kin from the left column and apply for records from the right column.

    Then under Where are my records held? click Apply to The Adoption Authority and/ or Apply to TUSLA. [I applied to both]

    This will bring you to the page with the Information Application Form which you can fill out online or download and send by post.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,731 ✭✭✭mrslancaster


    I will pass on that information to someone living in the UK - thanks. Quick question, do all enquiries need to go through the adoption authority or tusla? If my UK friend already has some information and wants to get original baptism data, can they apply directly to the church under this legislation?



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,047 ✭✭✭tuisginideach


    Thanks Hermy - don't know why I couldn't work that out for myself! Good job there's help available.



  • Registered Users Posts: 537 ✭✭✭Apothic_Red


    Just wondering if anyone has heard anything yet. I filled out the online application months before the Oct fanfare date but the site says I don't need to do anymore, fingers crossed



  • Registered Users Posts: 116 ✭✭LennieB


    I know (from a Facebook group I am in) that people have been getting acknowledgements in the post. One or two people told they will get their information soon.



  • Registered Users Posts: 466 ✭✭Pistachio19


    Are you sure you didn't just register your details on the Contact Preference Register before October? From what I understand, applications for tracing, early life information were only opened on October 3rd. And as said above, people have had acknowledgement of those applications in the post via registered letters. It might be an idea to contact TUSLA to see if your application covered everything.



  • Registered Users Posts: 537 ✭✭✭Apothic_Red


    I just read this in the FAQ so did nothing extra.

    I presume the online portal I already filled out pre Oct was the NAPCR & my details had been moved onto the CPR. Then I remember an email I'd received requesting my driver's licence a few months back.

    So is there a magic button I must push to start the process or is already in train. I'm confused.



  • Registered Users Posts: 466 ✭✭Pistachio19


    My understanding is that there was an older National Adoption Contact Preference Register (NACPR) going back a few years - my husband joined it years ago. This year they updated to a new one - Contact Preference Register (CPR), and if new people wanted to register their details they could, while all the people on the old NACPR would have their information transferred. This register will match you with members of your birth family if any of them also join it.

    However, if you are looking for early life information, or to trace your birth family, you will need to go back onto the birthinfo.ie website and fill out the necessary forms there to do so. There is a button for TUSLA and a button for AAI (Adoption Authority of Ireland). It appears your records will be with TUSLA so you can click on that one and follow the instructions. It is confusing but hopefully you will get whatever information you would like asap - I think once they have your application and are happy with identification, they should process it in about 30 days.



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,291 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    Can I ask did any of you receive the information booklet in the post?

    I'm in the Midlands and it doesn't appear to have been delivered in anyone my neighbourhood and someone I know in Meath didn't get one either.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



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  • Registered Users Posts: 537 ✭✭✭Apothic_Red


    Thanks for the advice.

    So, yes, I had to go here

    Then open a Tusla portal by re-entering the info I'd already completed on the Birth Info site.

    Then you can only make one person the target of your search per application, so obviously I selected mother first.

    When you go back to make another application for father/sibling/relation you have to submit a brand new application where none of your previous data is remembered.

    It's cumbersome, I've left it at mother then for now, we'll see where it goes.

    Thanks for the heads up on further steps being required, I thought I'd done everything months ago. I'm tech savvy, wondering if others like me are just sitting there waiting for a reply that will never come. Something badly engineered here.



  • Registered Users Posts: 472 ✭✭MintyMagnum


    Read on a different site that someone had to pay for the postage?



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,291 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    I got messages today from both TUSLA and AAI to say that due to high demand it will take longer than the initial 1 month delivery time to get my info to me.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Registered Users Posts: 472 ✭✭MintyMagnum


    You’re not alone it seems.

    So if an adopted person went to the general register office now and produced their ID can they get their original birth cert? Or do they have to still jump through the tusla / AAI hoops?



  • Registered Users Posts: 5 Sharmela


    Nope never did



  • Registered Users Posts: 5 Sharmela


    Sorry to hear that, me too. 😞



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,291 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    I'm not surprised or disappointed with the delays - I think it was always likely that demand would exceed the resources available.

    The main thing is that there is now a law in place that recognises our right as adoptees to know the story of our past.

    And hopefully most applicants will have their info for Christmas.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Registered Users Posts: 11 kazie84


    I also got this email today. The email said that they will need the extra 2 month’s extension in order to make sure they have all my information. I’d be very interested to see if anyone has received their information so far. Seems they are understaffed and unprepared for the amount of requested they have received.



  • Registered Users Posts: 472 ✭✭MintyMagnum


    Would it be too much to ask for it to be properly resourced?



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  • Registered Users Posts: 537 ✭✭✭Apothic_Red


    Chief Executive on radio this morning.

    Out of 7,000 requests they've dealt with 65, seems very under resourced



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