Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

In the last quarter of the 20th century there was a large decline in the number of children available for domestic adoption, which was seen as progressive. In Ireland, the number of domestic adoptions fell by 50% between 1967 and 1987. Today only a small number of Irish babies are adopted each year. The majority of adoptions are family or step-parent adoptions. That is something we would all welcome.

Following the decline in domestic adoptions, prospective adoptive parents began to look abroad to adopt. There has been a considerable growth in intercountry adoptions since the early 1990s. Intercountry adoption involves the movement of children across national borders for the purpose of adoption. This trend was initiated by the Romanian orphanage crisis and the attendant publicity. In total, some 3,569 overseas adoptions were registered by the Adoption Board between 1991 and 2007.

Ireland has changed from being a country which sent its children abroad for adoption to one that receives children from other parts of the world for adoption. Adoption in Ireland is now predominantly categorised by the adoption of children from abroad, presenting significant new challenges for the Adoption Board. As I said earlier, the board was established under the provisions of the Adoption Act 1952, which is now being repealed by virtue of the Bill before us. Ireland signed the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption in 1996. In recent years, within its current framework, the Adoption Board has striven to take on board the standards required by the Hague Convention.

The 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption provides for the establishment of safeguards to ensure that intercountry adoptions take place in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights as recognised under international law. It also provides for the establishment of a system of co-operation among contracting states to ensure these safeguards are respected and therefore prevent the abduction, sale or trafficking of children. It also secures the recognition in contracting states of adoptions made in accordance with the convention.

I look forward to contributing later to the Private Members' motion on human trafficking, which was introduced by Deputy Denis Naughten. Even in these difficult times, the Dáil should spend time dealing with issues concerning children and young people generally. We must continue to do so. In the midst of what seems to be doom and gloom, normal business should continue to be transacted here because the lights have not been switched off. Thank God for that. I suspect that all my colleagues would admit that these issues are of as much concern as any others. There are people who do not want to talk about the economy, social welfare and related issues, which are important nonetheless. People are hurting because of issues that the Adoption Bill seeks to address. They should be represented in that regard and their representative organisations are entitled to their views. The Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, has acted progressively in this aspect of his departmental remit. I hope he will continue to engage in listening to groups and individuals who want to make submissions concerning the Bill. I am sure he will be open in that regard.

Many of us have been lucky to be parents over the years, although it is not every day one would admit that. It is much more comfortable being a grandfather because I can send my granddaughter home at night. It is important to respect the rights of families who do not have their own children, but who wish to adopt. Over the decades, the adoption process has enabled caring families to provide a loving home environment to less fortunate children. Times have changed and it is not only because of the influence of Madonna. We know from international press coverage that issues concerning adoption remain to be resolved.

Given the growth of conflicts in various countries, unfortunately there will always be children for adoption in such areas. While it is not an ideal situation, I hope families here who want to provide loving, caring environments for such children can be facilitated in that regard.

Is the Acting Chairman waving at me to finish?

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