Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

We have done extensive work in finding out what the issue is with post-placement reports and the Russian authorities. In reply to a recent parliamentary question on the matter, I stated there are 34 missing post-placement reports out of a total of 450 from last year. The majority of the outstanding reports have been completed and are with adoptive parents for translation and notarisation. In a small number of cases, parents have neglected or have been unwilling or unable to have a home visit with their social worker.

Russia has blacklisted another 19 countries in the inter-country adoption process. We have liaised with the Russian embassy to find out how many reports it considers are missing. The Adoption Authority and the Health Service Executive have written to the parents in question, reminding them of their obligations which arise out of an affidavit they swore at the time of the adoption to provide post-placement reports.