Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts which are being made by his Department to liaise with the Adoption Board and Belarus to ensure that it re-opens to foreign adoptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37013/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility in this area is primarily a matter for the Department of Health and Children and the Adoption Board. The ambassador in Moscow, who is also accredited to Belarus, is available to help in every way possible.

When I visited Minsk on 9 June 2005, in my role as envoy of the United Nations' Secretary General, I took the opportunity to raise with the Belarussian Minister for Foreign Affairs the issue of inter-country adoptions between our two countries. All inter-country adoptions had been suspended by the authorities there in October 2004. It was agreed that Belarus would accept a delegation from Ireland to consider what could be done.

Subsequently, a delegation from the Adoption Board visited Belarus in September and met with the relevant authorities. The delegation was accompanied by a representative of the embassy in Moscow. I am pleased that the Belarussian authorities agreed in principle that adoptions from Belarus by Irish applicants will recommence as soon as a new adoption agreement between the countries is in place. In this regard, the Belarussian authorities handed over a draft agreement and I understand that this is currently being considered by the Attorney General.

My Department will work closely with the Adoption Board in taking this important and sensitive issue forward.