Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

I am very disappointed with the reply from the Minister of State. It is simply not acceptable that this is the approach taken by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the Government. The reply made no reference to an effort having been made by the Government to establish whether an invitation would be issued for Irish attendance at the meeting in Kazakhstan. All I heard is that no one is able to attend and that in the past year three letters were written by the Adoption Authority of Ireland to Kazakhstan without reply. This is an opportunity for our country to become part of negotiations with the Kazakhstani Government to ensure inter-country adoption can be opened up. It is not good enough to say the Government is willing to open negotiations at any time especially when communication has not been what it might have been over the past year.

We should ensure we are represented at the meeting with the Kazakhstani Government at which will be representatives of other countries seeking to establish inter-country adoption agreements with Kazakhstan. If we do not attend we will let down the many families throughout the country waiting on action from the Government and its engagement with the Kazakhstani authorities to establish an agreement whereby they can proceed with an inter-country adoption. Many families have already adopted from Kazakhstan and are seeking to adopt again and ensure their child has a sibling from the same country. It is not acceptable that the Minister of State can say the embassy in Moscow cannot attend this meeting. The embassy in Moscow must send a representative. Anything less than this does a grievous injustice to the families awaiting action from the Government to proceed with their adoptions. Has the Government made contact with the Kazakhstani Government to see whether Ireland would be welcome at the meeting - I have no doubt we would - instead of coming to the House with a reply stating we cannot make it?

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