As further clarification, the registers of births, deaths and marriages are still available in Joyce House and always have been. The same system of getting photocopies of certs applies.

By 23 May 2005, the Index to the Adopted Children's Register should be available in Joyce House also. There is no photocopying service for these certs, but you will be able to fill out the form in Joyce House and the staff will post it to Roscommon for you.

The Index to the Adopted Children's Register is available in Roscommon, as are miscellaneous birth, death and marriage books, but not enough of a selection to use Roscommon for a full search. If anyone has any problems, please email us at info@adoptionireland.com and we will try to have it addressed.

Regarding the computerisation of the GRO, he stated that he "was very sympathetic to adopted people sharing in the technological advances that were available to the wider public and I see no reason why they should be excluded". The Minister also repeated his guarantee, first given at the Adoption Legislation Consultation, that adopted people would continue to have access to the paper records in Joyce House even after computerisation.

The Minister also took on board our concerns over the Civil Registration Bill, 2003 and asked for a submission (which has since been sent to him).

Regarding the Adoption Information, Post-Adoption Contact and Associated Issues Bill, the Minister reassured us that he would not be proceeding with this Bill and instead new Heads would be drafted - and that they would definitely not include criminalisation.

The APA wholeheartedly welcomes these developments. Watch this space for further news!