Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to refer to another aspect of all this. I have great respect for Mr. Geoffrey Shannon and others who give service at the Adoption Authority of Ireland. However, I understand that the position of chief executive officer has been vacant since last September. The post is currently being advertised, so can the Minister provide us with an update on filling that position? Does the Minister have any concerns that the vacancy might impair the authority's ability to carry out its task? A criticism was exposed in the Boland article concerning Arc Adoption, one of the approved facilitators. According to the article, they have written on nine separate occasions to the Adoption Authority of Ireland vis-à-vis the US opening up opportunities for inter-country adoptions with Ireland. No reply has been forthcoming, but have replies been issued since the beginning of this month? Can the Minister assure the House and the people concerned that everything necessary is being done and that the most effective practices are in place?

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