Implementation of the Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 - Consultation on the Disclosure of Information Held in Adoption Records to Support the Operation of the Truth Recovery Redress Scheme

Overview

The Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Act (Northern Ireland) 2026 will establish a statutory framework for truth recovery, acknowledgement and redress for individuals affected by historical practices associated with such institutions. A key component of the future Redress Scheme will be ensuring that individuals are able to obtain the information necessary to evidence their eligibility for redress and adoption agencies will have an integral role in facilitating the disclosure of information held in adoption records. The Department proposes to bring forward Regulations, under powers provided in the Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, to assist individuals to obtain the information they require and to support adoption agencies to disclose that information. The intention is that the Regulations will provide greater clarity to support the successful delivery of the Redress Scheme.

The Department is seeking views, by way of this consultation, on the policy proposals that will underpin the provisions to be included in the Regulations that the Department intends to make.

The consultation document, consultation response form, privacy notice and equality impact screening document can be viewed on the Department's website at; Consultations | Department of Health.