New laws aimed at making it easier for adopted children to trace their parents could soon be in force.
Last night the Adoption Bill passed the report stage in the Dáil and will now be discussed at the Seanad.
The bill also makes it easier for step-parents to adopt a child and gives new opportunity for children in Foster care to be adopted.
The Children's Minister Katherine Zappone says she hopes the bill will be enshrined in law in 2017.
