Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for putting this important issue on the agenda given its urgency. I ask the Minister for Children and the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, who is present, to intervene to ensure there will be Irish Government representation at a meeting being held by the Kazakhstani Adoption Authority this Friday in Kazakhstan to liaise with countries which would wish to have inter-country adoption agreements with Kazakhstan. It is crucial that every action is taken by the Government to ensure we have representation at that meeting. There reason is that many citizens in Ireland are keen to adopt from Kazakhstan, as are many families who have indicated an intention to adopt from other countries as well. Were we not to ensure every opportunity is taken for Ireland to be represented at these talks with the Kazakhstani Government, it could lead to undue delays in trying to ensure that Kazakhstan is opened as a country through which we will have an agreement to have inter-country adoptions.

This is all the more important because as a result of Ireland signing up to the Hague convention at the end of November 2010 we have seen a significant drop in the number of inter-country adoptions by Irish citizens. Those adoptions have decreased from a high of 397 in 2008 to below 200 in 2010 and 2011. Most of those adoptions were based on transitional agreements made with countries prior to Ireland's signing up to the Hague convention. We are now in a position where Ireland must establish new procedures with many of the countries that have signed up to the Hague convention while also seeking to establish bilateral agreements with some of those countries that were the main base for previous Irish inter-country adoptions to ensure we can resume adoptions from those countries.

In that context and in the context of the many citizens and families throughout the country who are willing to offer a loving home to children in need of that, it would be a major setback and disappointment for those families if the Minister of State and his Government did not take every step to ensure the opportunity of the meeting this Friday is taken up. I understand the Adoption Authority of Ireland has been in touch with the Irish Embassy in Moscow with regard to this. This would be the most appropriate way of ensuring at relatively short notice that Ireland is represented. I see no reason this should not be the case. What investigations has the Government undertaken to ensure this comes to pass and that we are represented at the meeting on Friday so we can ensure as soon as possible a process is established by which prospective Irish parents can apply for inter-country adoptions with Kazakhstan?

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