Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 539: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of countries the Adoption Authority of Ireland contacted about forming bilateral adoption agreements; if there is a time line for bilateral agreements with the top five countries from which Ireland adopts; if the funding for the AAI will be ringfenced in budget 2012 to ensure that families are able to adopt children from countries that were previously open to adoption before the Hague Convention legislation last year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34345/11]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 540: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to allow Irish persons adopt from more countries than Bulgaria; when she envisages that this will happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34346/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 543: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will grant her consent to the Adoption Authority to allow it to enter into negotiations with Ethiopia to develop a bilateral agreement for adoption from that State as outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34461/11]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if progress will be made regarding bilateral adoption agreements with countries which have not yet ratified the Hague Convention to improve the situation for both prospective Irish parents and children abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34486/11]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an increase in resources will be made available to the Adoption Authority of Ireland to progress with bilateral adoption agreements with countries that have not yet ratified the Hague Convention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34487/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 531, 539, 540 and 543 to 545, inclusive, together.

The Adoption Act, 2010, commenced on 1st November 2010. This coincided with Ireland's formal ratification of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The purpose of the Adoption Act, 2010, is to improve standards in both domestic and intercountry adoption. The regulatory framework governing adoption has been strengthened in an attempt to ensure that the best interests of children are protected at every step throughout the adoption process. With effect from 1 November inter-country adoptions can be effected with other countries which have ratified the Hague Convention or with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement.