Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if and when Ireland is entering the Hague Convention; the proposed age limits for people making an application to adopt; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37011/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Heads of Bill on the Adoption (Hague Convention, Adoption Authority and Miscellaneous) Bill, which when enacted will ratify the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, 1993, are currently being drafted into a Bill in the Parliamentary Counsel's office. I hope that the Bill will be published in the earlier part of 2006.

The Bill includes proposals regarding the imposition of an upper age limit for people who wish to be assessed for inter-country adoption. It has been decided to impose a maximum age of 50. This age limit will apply to individuals and to the younger of a couple at the time they apply to be assessed for inter-country adoption.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to bring in a bilateral agreement on adoption between Ireland and Russia similar to that between Ireland and China; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37014/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Further to the meeting between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Russian Foreign Minister in July 2005 at which it was decided to follow up at official level the question of pursuing a bilateral agreement between Ireland and Russia on inter-country adoption, the Adoption Board has been in ongoing contact with the Irish Embassy in Moscow. Ambassador Harman met with the director of the Department of Governmental Youth Policy, Upbringing and Social Welfare of Children, on 21 September 2005 to further discuss the matter and follow up action is being taken on foot of that meeting. Copies of Ireland's bilateral adoption agreements were forwarded to the Russian Ministry on 4 October 2005 and the Ministry has indicated that it will forward an official response to the Irish Embassy in Moscow within the next few months. The Ministry has also indicated that it will be pleased to meet a delegation from the Adoption Board early next year. It is important to note, however, that it is not possible at this stage to confirm either a timeframe for the completion of the negotiations or whether or not such negotiations will result in a successful outcome.