Local senator’s adoption call

A NORTHSIDE Senator has called for the Government to enact a bill that will give adoptees a right to their birth certs, listing their original names and their natural parents’ names.
Senator Averil Power’s Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014 passed through the second stage in the Seanad last week.

Senator Power, from Bayside, welcomed the Government’s decision not to oppose her bill.
The bill still has to go through another two stages in the Seanad before it comes before the Dáil but Senator Power said it was vital that the legislation is not delayed.

“Too many people are relying on us to make this change,

? she told Northside People.

“The Government controls the business of the Dáil so it will be up to them to determine the fate of the bill after it leaves the Seanad.

“I am encouraged, however, by the fact that it received all-party support in the Seanad.

?
Senator Power said the bill has received strong support from adopted people, natural mothers and children’s rights groups.

“TDs and Senators of all parties have also been vocal in their support for it,

? she stated.

“Given the huge support it has received, I would have been surprised if the Government had actively opposed it.

? Senator Power said she was one of a minority of adoptees who has been lucky enough to have found their natural mother without the legal right to the information provided for in the bill.

“Therefore, it won’t have a direct impact on my life,

? she said.

“However, it means a lot to me to be in a position to help other adoptees who have not been so lucky and won’t ever get the information and support they need without this legislation.

?

Senator Power said she spent the whole summer researching the issue.

“I then found a barrister who specialises in this area of law to work on it with me,

? she stated.

“We went through several different drafts before finally getting it right.

“Since publishing the bill, I have concentrated on lobbying TDs and Senators from all parties to support it.

?

Dubbing the bill

‘Philomena’s Law’, Senator Power paid tribute to Philomena Lee, the 81-year-old woman whose 50-year search for her son, Anthony, attracted worldwide attention through a major movie.

“Philomena and Anthony both spent years trying to find each other but were kept apart by the nuns in the mother and baby home who told each of them that the other person didn’t want to know about them,

? she stated.

“It broke my heart to hear Philomena say that her son passed away believing she had rejected him when that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

“I promised her when we met that I would work on changing the law and was delighted last week when she came out in support of my bill and urged all Senators to support it.

?

Senator Power added:

“Unfortunately, this new law is too late for Philomena and Anthony but it will help other mothers who were separated from their sons or daughters through adoption and wish to reunite.

?

A spokesperson for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly, said the Minister had no difficulty in principle with the objective of Senator Power’s bill.

“However, following advice, there may be constitutional issues arising from provisions of the bill,

? the spokesperson told Northside People.

“For example, the Private Members’ bill would share information without providing any requirement for consent on the part of the parent. The Constitution has provisions around privacy. So there are real issues to be considered.

“The Minister feels the bill would benefit from wider consultation.

“The Government agrees that it should be referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for discussion. In parallel with this, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will give consideration of the bill.

“Work in the Department is well advanced on the (the Government)

‘Adoption (Information and Tracing) General Scheme and Heads of Bill’.

“Parts of Senator Power’s bill have the potential to be incorporated into the Government legislation,

? the spokesperson added.