Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 591: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider points made on inter-country adoption from India in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9508/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility for the direct operational implementation of legislation and Government policy. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specific case raised by the Deputy as this is a matter for the statutory authorities. Accordingly, I have forwarded the request to the Adoption Authority for direct attention. I can, however, comment more generally on the situation with regard to adoption from India.

On the 17th February 2012 the AAI posted on its website a notice relating to intercountry adoptions from India. The notice stated that the Authority was notified on 1 July 2011 by the Indian National Central Authority, CARA, that it would not be accepting dossiers from Irish applicants either until 30 September 2011 or until further notice. The notice further stated that CARA has not been in touch with the AAI since that date. It has since come to the attention of the AAI that CARA proposes to introduce a new computerised system of online dossier registration which would appear essentially to present many features of a monthly 'lottery' type process. To date, CARA has not invited the AAI to participate in such a scheme.

The AAI is proposing to visit CARA / India as soon as is practicable. Should CARA invite Ireland / AAI to participate in a new intercountry adoption scheme between the two countries, the invitation will be given careful consideration by the Board of the AAI, taking into account advice from relevant bodies including the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference.

Adoptions between Ireland and India must comply with the terms and conditions of the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The role of the respective National Central Authorities is critical to this process. There is no role in the process for individual 'facilitators' to secure referrals and to process adoptions. In this context, the AAI advises persons not to proceed with private (non-Hague Convention) adoptions from India. In the event of a resumption of intercountry adoptions between Ireland and India, 'expressions of interest' may be sought from registered Accredited Bodies in Ireland to facilitate adoptions between the two countries.