Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this important matter. Anyone who has been present in the Chamber for the past 30 to 45 minutes will be aware of the complexity of this issue. Many Deputies referred to different countries in the context of adoption and if one had been present for an hour of this debate, one would have obtained a clear understanding of the issues which arise.

Since taking office, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, has shown an extremely commendable level of dedication in respect of the issue of child protection, from areas such as safeguarding policy to the very important and emotive question of inter-country adoption. I have been approached by many prospective parents in east Galway in respect of this matter who are seeking clarification on a number of aspects relating to it. I am glad the legislation currently before the House is clear and concise and places the welfare of the child at the very centre of the debate. When prospective parents enter the field of inter-country adoption, they do so in the hope of giving a happy home to a child from another country. It is only fitting that the very highest quality control checks are put in place to ensure that birth families are given free and informed consent in respect of an adoption.

Recent years have seen a substantial drop in the numbers of registered foreign adoptions in Ireland, declining from 397 in 2008 to approximately 200 last year and the year before. Much of this is down to the fact that the provisions of the Hague Convention make it more difficult for couples to adopt. However, the provisions of the convention are key in ensuring the welfare of a child is paramount.

The provisions of the Hague Convention have placed a hugely increased workload on the staff of the Adoption Authority of Ireland since its inception in late 2010. This independent body is tasked with explaining the changed process to prospective parents, allaying their concerns and coming to terms with the different legal processes in the many countries with which it works.

The Hague Convention came into force in Vietnam on the first day of this month, a significant milestone in adoptions from that country. I note the Minister's comments that the Vietnamese authorities have put considerable effort into ensuring stronger regulation of adoption practices following the suspension of adoptions from that country a number of years ago. It is welcome that immediately on taking office the Minister decided to re-establish political and diplomatic links with Vietnam and I know she recently had a positive experience while visiting the country. At the time Vietnamese adoptions were stopped 19 couples were about to adopt and a further 200 have since named Vietnam as a country from which they would like to adopt. Therefore, the Minister's efforts in this respect mean a great deal to many families throughout the country.

The issue of adoptions from Mexico needs wider debate at national level. Huge concerns were expressed following the arrest of several Irish people in Mexico in recent weeks who had unwittingly got caught up in what was a truly awful situation. I note the chairman of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, Mr. Geoffrey Shannon, has stressed that any adoption from Mexico must be effected between the respective central authorities and that there is no provision under the arrangements for processing private adoptions. All 11 cases which recently made the news headlines involved private adoptions. That the Adoption Authority of Ireland has stated it has no evidence that previous adoptions involving Irish people were unsafe is very welcome, but the coverage given to the recent arrests should reinforce for all involved in adoptions the need to ensure all intercountry adoptions are conducted to the highest standards and in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention.

Now that the provisions of the Hague Convention are in force, greater efforts are being made to increase the number of signatories to it, which will greatly facilitate and streamline the process, in the process reducing the resources necessary to effect adoptions. Complex constitutional issues arise in the case of Russia, but I urge the Minister to continue to do all in her power to ensure Irish couples can safely adopt children from there.

The decision to adopt a child is momentous and not taken lightly. Similarly, the decision to give up a child for adoption is not taken lightly. Every effort must be made to smooth the path of prospective Irish parents who wish to adopt from abroad, just as every effort must be made to uphold the provisions of the Hague Convention in respect of intercountry adoptions, ensuring at all times that the welfare of the child about to be adopted is paramount.

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