APPENDIX 23
Letter from Eilis Manning
I have been looking through the above Bill I
felt very strongly about one section.
In section 48—the word "may"
is used. I feel very strongly that this should be "will"
not "may". The use of the word "may" suggests
that the release of relevant information about an adoptee is at
the discretion of someone in an agency. I believe this to be immoral.
That information belongs, by moral right, I believe to the adoptee
and no-one from an agency has the right to withhold it. I have
seen the pain and heartache of adoptees who are refused information,
or worse still, who are given wrong or misleading information.
This cannot be morally right. The frustration of knowing someone
has vital information on file about you but is refusing to release
it creates a dreadful burden. I have seen one young man nearly
crack up over this very issue. No-one has the right to withhold
such information. It gives some agency person incredible power
over an adoptee's life. This ought not to be!
May 2001
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