Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 103: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the delays being encountered by couples waiting to adopt from the Philippines; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that it now taking two to three years for Irish couples to receive their referrals from the Philippines; the steps she will take to reduce this delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20767/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 inter-country adoption arrangements will be governed by the terms of the Adoption Bill 2009 when enacted.

The Philippines has ratified the Hague Convention on the Protection and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption and its domestic adoption law is compatible with Ireland. The issue of waiting times for referrals of children to Irish prospective adoptive parents with a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to Adopt is a matter for the authorities in the Philippines having due regard to their inter-country adoption procedures, including the application of the principle of subsidiarity as set out in the Hague Convention.