Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh míle maith agat. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for giving me the opportunity to once again raise the issue of the Russian adoption crisis in Seanad Éireann. The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald has three weeks to fulfil her own words from her initiative, Putting Children First. She has three weeks to make a clear and courageous decision to save stranded children in Russia and take prospective adoptive parents out of their living hell. She has three weeks to act with compassion and grant the much sought after amendment to the 2010 adoptive legislation. It will allow a small number of Irish families to bring home the Russian child that they already love as their own.

The Irish adoptive parents' circumstances are no different today than they were prior to the Hague Convention deadline of 31 October. They are still approved to adopt children and love the children that many of them have met. The adoptive parents should not be punished for exceptional circumstances that are not of their making.

Last Sunday I attended the commemoration of the setting up of Óglaigh na hÉireann held at the Garden of Remembrance. I spoke face to face with the Minister on the issue. She advised me that she was working flat out on the issue but flat out is not good enough. Every day I hear the word “leadership” bandied about and I call for political leadership. She has been elected as a leader and part of her job is to make political decisions so let her get on with amending the 2010 legislation.