The skewed values of our past continue to be a source of distress for many elderly Irish women and their now ageing children. But probably worst is the denial by this State to adopted people of a right to their birth certificates and other relevant information from their pre-adoption childhood. It may be the case that a now elderly birth mother or father does not want contact with the child. That should be respected but it ought not preclude adopted people from having a right to their own histories as infants and relevant information from their pre-adoptive childhood. It should be a human right in Ireland too.

Source: The Irish Times October 16, 2018 22:52 UTC