Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Financial probity is one of the most important tenets in inter-country adoption. The measure contained in the Bill is intended to ensure there can be no question of funds of any kind being made available to accredited bodies in a manner that might give rise to questions about the management and execution of responsibilities in respect of making arrangements for adoption. This measure is protective of such accredited bodies. It does not rule out such gifts but ensures any such gifts must by law be the subject of notification and approval of the adoption authority. In this area, I am of the view that any measure that prevents improper financial gain at any stage of the process and that emphasises the importance of financial probity is essential to the process.

This section reflects Article 8 of the Hague Convention and is one of the cornerstones of the development of inter-country adoption. Achieving higher standards of financial probity is one of the challenges of inter-country adoption. It does not interfere with fund-raising in any way but merely ensures there can be no question marks over conflicts of interest.