Adoption Rights Campaigner: "We Have Another Fight On Our Hands"

Monday, 24 January 2022 10:05

By Caoimhe Harney

Responding to the new Birth Information and Tracing Bill

Clare McGettrick was born in 1973 and adopted at six weeks old through St Patrick’s Guild Adoption Society, she was reunited with her mother when she was 20.

Although she has known her original identity since then, she has spent her entire adult life in a battle, at first with St Patrick’s Guild and more recently with Tusla, to obtaining her adoption file.

"Like every other adopted person in Ireland, I am discriminated against simply because I am adopted.

I have spent the past 20 years campaigning on this issue with Adoption Rights Alliance, the Clann Project and our predecessor organisations," she said.

"Roderic O’Gorman is the ninth Minister for Children we’ve engaged with; the Birth (Information and Tracing) Bill 2022 is our fourth information bill. I think it’s beyond time for our rights to be recognised in law," she explained.

"Within minutes of reading the Minister's latest Draft Bill, published on 12 January, I knew we had another fight on our hands: under this draft Bill, some adopted people will still have to attend an offensive Information Session before they can get their birth certificates.

The Bill once again wants to take away adopted people’s rights to their personal data, rights only recently affirmed through the General Data Protection Regulation" (GDPR), she added.

Ms. McGettrick spoke with Clem Ryan on Monday morning's Kildare Today:

More from National News

CCPC Issues Open Letter To Traders Amid Surge In Complaints Over Home Building And Improvement Jobs

The CCPC received almost 1,250 complaints from consumers - prompting the regulator to issue an open letter to the industry and to write directly to nearly 3,000 traders nationwide.
Pizza Vending Machine In Naas Forced To Close Over Anti-Social Activity And Alleged Drug Dealing

The only other pizza vending machine operated by Bosca Pizza is in Newcastle.
BREAKING: DJ Carey Jailed For Five-And-A-Half Years

After passing sentence, the judge said he could not imagine a more reprehensible fraud
Kildare Superintendent Among Officers Promoted As Part Of Senior Garda Operational Reassignments

Among the changes, Superintendent Georgina Gray - who had been serving in Kildare North - has been transferred to the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, where she will take on detective duties.
BREAKING: Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder Following Death Of Ryan Weir Gibbons In Kildare Town

Gardaí confirmed the arrest was made this morning, Monday 3rd November, as part of the ongoing investigation.
"Hope At Last" - Horsepasstown Residents May Soon See End To Six-Year Boil Water Struggle

Annette Ward, whose 87-year-old mother Kay Ward is among those affected, told Kfm that work to replace the water pipeline is due to begin in January - and it’s hoped residents could have safe, drinkable tap water by July.
Kildare Among Worst-Hit Counties As Teacher Shortages Hit Special And Disadvantaged Schools

The findings also reveal that a substitution crisis continues to affect a large number of primary schools.
Focus Ireland Founder Sr Stan Dies Aged 86

She passed away earlier this morning in Dublin at the St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown.