Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. To be fair to the parents' representatives, they acknowledged that the Minister was very frank during their meeting with him. That frankness is welcome, but the Minister still has not told me his target date for completion. There are complex issues outstanding, but it is up to officials within the Department and the Adoption Authority of Ireland to work with their Russian counterparts. The Department will not be able to iron out the difficulties if it does not engage. In that context, is it true that correspondence received in the Department from Russian officials has yet to be dealt with? If this issue is still a priority, the Minister must set down a clear target date and insist that we will have this resolved in 12 months. It will not be resolved if the Department does not engage on the issue and if the Minister does not visit Russia. As I understand it, a proposed visit to Russia was cancelled in January of last year. We must up the ante, engage with the relevant people and give these families and the children of Russia hope.

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