New Bill could help adoptees find their birth parents
A new bill has been published which could give adopted people new hope of being reunited with their birth parents.
The laws from the Department of Children will guarantee rights to non-identifying information for all adopted people.
Those people will also be able to apply for their birth certificate, although if their parent does not want to be contacted, they will have to sign a declaration agreeing not to do so.
Minister James Reilly says he hopes the bill will help to undo the trauma of some forced adoptions in the past.
"For many women in this situation there was no choice but adoption, they have carried that pain for many, many years after," said Minister Reilly.
"I hope this bill will help families who were separated in such circumstances, to find the answers they need, and to re-establish contact where that is possible."
