Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will request the Adoption Board to grant declarations to prospective adoptive parents for two year instead of the one year rule that now applies; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult for families wishing to adopt to meet all the criteria within the one year window and consequently many families are frustrated by the bureaucracy attached to the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23886/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Section 41 (1) of the Adoption Bill, 2009, deals with the expiration of Declarations of Eligibility and Suitability. Under the new legislation, declarations will be valid for 24 months from the date of issuance with the possibility of a further 12 month extension.