Birth cert is a human right

THIS week the State’s cruel and harrowing system of illegal adoptions was exposed in a powerful documentary by RTÉ Investigates. Watching the programme, I was so moved by the people who came forward to bravely tell their stories.

Stories of unimaginable heartbreak; of women whose babies were ripped from their arms and of adults still desperately searching for the most basic information about who they really are.

Through their bravery, adopted people have made sure this dark chapter of the State’s history is no longer ignored. As difficult as it is, we all have a duty to listen, to learn and to do right by them now.

We need a transparent, inclusive investigation that captures the full extent of the scandal. Earlier this week in the Dáil, I called on the

Taoiseach to commit to doing exactly this. Survivors of this cruel system deserve nothing less than the full truth.

However, we must also be clear that the trauma, the hurt and the suffering of illegal adoptions and Mother and Baby Homes isn’t just something that happened in the past.

The fact is that our current laws still harm adopted people in horrendously traumatising ways. This must change and we must take steps to put this right in the here and now.

Over the years, many adopted people – including survivors of Mother and Baby Homes – have shared their stories with me. I have been so moved by their bravery and determination in their pursuit of justice.

One of the most appalling things is how adopted people seeking to access their own records are treated with nothing short of contempt by State and religious institutions who refuse to give them access to even basic information.

Survivors have shared how they have been outright misled by institutions telling them they don’t have any information about them, when that isn’t the case at all.

Survivors have spoken of the pain of Túsla revealing that they have information about their births but they won’t let them see it.

All of this adds to the trauma of survivors.

Many still don’t know who they are, when they were born or where. They don’t know their birth name, who their birth family are or basic medical information.

Most devastatingly, some people don’t find out this information until it is too late and their family are deceased by the time they are able to trace them.

Knowing who you are is such a basic right that many of us take for granted. It is a right that must be enshrined in law and all adopted people must have a legal right to access their own birth certificates.

This has been the law in the North since the 1980s and is the law in Britain too. Ireland is an outlier in the veil of shame we project around adoption and which we expect adopted people to carry. This cannot continue.

Astonishingly, the Government has been attempting to defend this treatment, arguing that it is something that has to happen due to GDPR data rules. Legal experts have been very clear that this couldn’t be further from the case.

The State can no longer hide behind this excuse.

For 20 years, successive governments have promised to legislate in this area but that has not happened.

On Wednesday, Sinn Féin will bring legislation to the Dáil which would finally afford adopted people a legal right to access their own birth certificates.

My colleague Kathleen Funchion TD has drafted the Bill, which would make a huge difference to the lives of all adopted people across the State who wish to avail of this right. Kathleen has been working with survivors on the law and listening to their calls for change.

This is a process and there will be a need for further action. Other legislation in respect of adoption tracing will be needed, but there is no reason why there should be any further delays in providing people access to birth certs.

Survivors have been left waiting long enough.

The recommendations of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission also need to be implemented.

Many politicians have spoken this week of their shock at the revelations of illegal adoptions and a few months ago when the Mother and Baby Homes Commission Report was published. They have been keen to offer sympathy and kind words to survivors.

But adopted people need more than just tea and sympathy – they need action.

I am calling on all TDs from all parties to do the right thing and back Sinn Féin’s legislation this week. We need to put party politics aside and come together to support survivors’ calls. We are prepared to work with the Government on this issue.

It is up to them now to do likewise.

Kicking the can down the road and hoping people will forget is not an option.

We have a chance to ensure adopted people can finally find out who they are. Let’s make it happen.