James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We can define "recently". The bottom line, as the Deputy knows, is the issue with Russia has been ongoing since at least 2008 and, subsequent to the Adoption Act 2010, these discussions have been predicated on Ireland's legislative requirement for a bilateral agreement, as I stated earlier, on intercountry adoption with non-Hague Convention countries. However, recent indications are that the Russian authorities are seeking bilateral agreements with all countries where adoptions take place from Russia. Those authorities have just ratified one with Spain. Our constitutional elements relating to the family and the Russian requirement for post-adoption reporting are immutable issues that do not seem to be resolvable.

There is no reluctance on our part in this process and I will do everything in my power to move this forward. I want what is best for children and to facilitate what is best for them, no matter what nation they come from. I am particularly aware of families that already have a Russian adopted child and would love to have a sibling of the same nationality. I fully support such a concept and wish but I am bound by law and the Attorney General's advice. I can only negotiate so far with the Russians.

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