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

Kildare Among Ireland’s Worst Counties For Illegal Fireworks Offences

Nationally, over 4,100 offences were recorded across the country, including 184 last year.
Outpouring Of Grief In Kildare Town After Death Of "Gentle Soul" Who Died Following A Serious Assault

Audio

The young man, named locally as Ryan, is understood to have been out socialising with a group of males.
BREAKING: Young Man Dies In Hospital Following Serious Assault In Kildare Town

He was taken to Naas hospital but passed away sometime today.
Weekend Rail Disruptions: Bus Transfers For Kildare And Athy Commuters Amid Major Works

InterCity services to and from Heuston will have bus transfers to either Kildare, Athy or Portarlington.
Death Notices And A Fake Undertaker: Three-Year Sentence For Woman Behind Elaborate Death Hoax

Amy McAuley was due to stand trial in early 2023, but that never went ahead — because she pretended to be her sister and told gardaí that she had died.
Cannonball’s Naas Finale Helped Drive €781,000 Collection Boost For Jack and Jill

The supercar road trip, which finished in Naas, was attended by hundreds of locals who made donations.
Proceeds Of Crime Reinvested In Communities As Kildare Secures Share Of €4.4m Fund

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has announced over €4.4 million for 42 community safety projects across the country - including initiatives tackling domestic and gender-based violence, drug intimidation, and youth crime prevention.
Plans Considered For 24-Hour Garda Station At Citywest Site

At the moment, in nearby Rathcoole, residents have a Garda station that does not operate at full-time capacity.