Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 58: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the procedure to be followed in the case of a non-national wishing to adopt a non-national child for whom they were previously a legal guardian; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16838/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A person ordinarily resident in Ireland, regardless of nationality, may apply to the Adoption Board for an order for the adoption of a child who resides in the State. An order shall not be granted unless the child is more than six weeks old and, in the case of a child aged over seven, the board is satisfied that adoption is in the best interests of the child; the relevant consents to the adoption are either given or dispensed with; and the prospective adopters are eligible to adopt and are found to be suitable following an assessment process carried out by the Health Services Executive or an agency charged by it to do so. In practice, a non-national wishing to adopt a non-national child, both of whom are resident in Ireland, should make an application for adoption through their local office of the Health Service Executive.