People Could be Jailed because Government has Failed to Deliver, says new Adoption Organisation

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Wednesday May 09, 2007 14:28 by ASNI - The Adoption Support Network of Ireland info at adoption dot ie

A newly formed adoption support group called the Adoption Support Network of Ireland (ASNI) has accused the outgoing Fianna Fáil / PD Government of failing to deliver for tens of thousands of Irish people, despite a promise to do so four years ago.

People Could be Jailed because Government has Failed to Deliver, says new Adoption Organisation

Contact: Claire McGettrick

Tel: 087-9526345

Email: info@adoption.ie

A newly formed adoption support group called the Adoption Support Network of Ireland (ASNI) has accused the outgoing Fianna Fáil / PD Government of failing to deliver for tens of thousands of Irish people, despite a promise to do so four years ago.

The ASNI is the first National organisation of its kind to comprise of adopted people, natural parents, adoptive parents, natural family members and other interested parties whose lives have been affected by Ireland’s closed secret adoption system.

ASNI says that Irish adoption legislation is embarrassingly out of date in comparison with England, where adoption files were released to adopted people in the 1970's.

In 2003, following a detailed consultation process, the Minister for Children, Mr. Brian Lenihan promised to bring forward reforming legislation before the end of this Governments term of office.

“Now, however, the Dáil is dissolved,” said Claire McGettrick, spokesperson for ASNI,“and we have been left waiting. Minister Lenihan has promised much but failed to deliver.”

“Worse still’, she added, “a highly draconian proposal to fine, or even jail people for trying to trace a relative, is now effectively back on the agenda”

The proposal, in draft legislation by Brian Lenihan’s predecessor, Mary Hanafin, was to be struck out permanently by the current minister, but this was never done, despite a commitment to do so four years ago.

“Now,” said Claire McGettrick, “The door is again open for a future Minister to resurrect those shocking proposals, if they should choose to do so.”

For further information about how to join ASNI, the organisation can be contacted through its website www.adoption.ie or via email at info@adoption.ie or by phone at 087-9526345.