Sir, - The Council of Irish Adoption Agencies (CIAA) welcomes the long-awaited judgement of the Supreme Court and hopes that a way forward can now be found quickly to address the whole area of search and reunion. For the past five years we have been lobbying successive governments for the introduction of a comprehensive legal framework that will respect and balance the needs and rights of both adopted people and birth parents.
We recognise that this is a very complex area which requires very sensitive handling of often conflicting human emotions and relationships. We are aware that lack of information often causes stress and pain to adopted people. Equally, the privacy of birth mothers who relinquished babies for adoption must be respected if they feel unable to cope with contact.
The past few years have witnessed a tremendous shift in adoption practice from secrecy towards openness. In the absence of legislation, agencies are already offering a highly sensitive, caring service. Every day we are dealing with the joy, elation, pain and sadness of adoption. We work with both adopted people seeking contact with their birth families and also with birth mothers seeking information about the children they placed for adoption. We accept that we cannot put any pressure on people to meet one another and can arrange reunions only when there is mutual consent.
In 1997 alone, 1,425 new search enquiries were received by agencies throughout the country and 385 adopted adults were reunited with their birth parents. Sadly, this service remains totally under-resourced and a further 925 people were still on waiting lists.
We feel that it is important to establish a comprehensive legal system which is responsive to the needs of those who are searching. We already have the understanding and experience to provide an excellent service but cannot do so unless adequate funding is made available.
We look forward to consultation with the Government with regard to any proposed legislation. - Yours, etc.,
Hazel Douglas, Una Coakley
Council of Irish Adoption Agencies, South Anne Street, Dublin 2.