Sir, - We were pleased to read Padraig O Morain's report on the launch of Irish Adoption Contact Register Internet site by the Adopted People's Association.
Unfortunately, the article failed to mention that the Natural Parents Network of Ireland was also represented at the event, and I made a short speech on behalf of the NPNI to congratulate the APA on their excellent initiative.
We believe it is crucially important that adopted people should know that the overwhelming majority of natural parents would welcome contact from their adult children.
It is extremely good news that the Irish Adoption Contact Register can also be used by natural family members who are searching for a (now adult) child who was placed for adoption.
We are glad to report that adoption agencies have improved their policies in recent years. A natural mother is now permitted to request a search for her child, and even if the child refuses contact, she can at least be re-assured that he or she is alive.
Many social workers have asked us to issue an appeal to natural mothers to get in touch with their adoption agencies so that current addresses will be on file when the adopted person requests a search. This will save a great deal of time, and will help to shorten the waiting time for many others in the ever-increasing queue. - Yours, etc., Bernie Harold, Chairperson, Natural Parents Network of Ireland,
PO Box 6714, Dublin 4.