Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I understand it is the intention to bring the Adoption Bill to this House on 18 November. The interpretation in the Bill as agreed in the Seanad is more restrictive than the Hague Convention. It does not provide for transitional arrangements for people who are advanced in the adoption process with countries that have not ratified the Hague Convention and it does not provide for bilateral agreements with a country such as Ethiopia, which may not be able to ratify the convention because it cannot afford it.

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