A GROUP representing adopted people has criticised the Freedom of Information Bill for failing to give adoptees a right to information about their origins. The Adopted and Fostered Persons' Association of Ireland said it was astonishing that the Bill failed to address the issue.
The group lobbied the Minister of State, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald, to include a right to information one the origins of adoptees in the Bill. However, Ms Fitzgerald said, in a" letter to Mr Tommy Broughan TD, that in view of the complexity and sensitivity of the issue, she believed adoption information should be dealt with under the adoption laws.
The association said yesterday that 42,000 adoptees continued to be denied access to files.