Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a bilateral adoption agreement with Ethiopia; if she has been in discussion with an organisation (details supplied) since 30 October 2009 to discuss this matter; if it is envisioned that parents here will be able to adopt from Ethiopia in the near future; if not, if transitional measures will be put in place for parents who have sent their declaration to Ethiopia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3510/10]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if work has commenced on a bilateral agreement to allow adoption from Ethiopia; when this agreement will be concluded; if the agreement will be in place before the Adoption Bill 2009 becomes law; if couples already granted approval by the Health Service Executive will be facilitated under any transitional or interim arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3528/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 300 together.

The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child. Future intercountry adoption arrangements will be governed by the terms of the Adoption Bill 2009 when enacted.

The current policy position, as set out in the Adoption Bill 2009, is that for an adoption to be registered under the Bill it must be effected in a contracting State to the Hague Convention or in a country with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. For non-Hague countries only those adoptions effected prior to the commencement of the new law can be registered on the Register of Inter-Country Adoptions to be established under the Bill.

The issue of transitional measures for prospective parents who are at a definable stage in the adoption process when the Bill is enacted and who wish to continue to adopt a child from a non-Hague, non-bilateral country, is being examined. Prospective adoptive parents have waited a long time and it is my intention to be as flexible as possible in relation to applicants.

Ireland does not have a bilateral agreement with Ethiopia in respect of adoption. Consideration of this matter is at an early stage.

I will be meeting the organisation specified by the Deputy when I address its annual general meeting in February.