Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will enter into an agreement with a country (details supplied) regarding the adoption of children in view of the fact that there have been very positive results from adoptions to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1992/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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1Taiwan is not a signatory to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption and as such is covered by Section 73 of the Adoption Act, 2010.

With effect from 1 November 2010, intercountry adoptions can be effected with other countries which have ratified the Hague Convention or with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. Ireland currently has no bilateral agreements in respect of intercountry adoption. As the Hague Convention is designed to ensure a minimum set of standards in intercountry adoption, the Adoption Authority of Ireland have indicated that their first priority is to reach agreements on arrangements with other Hague countries. The AAI are currently developing administrative arrangements with a number of countries who are signatories to the Hague Convention, including the USA, Mexico and Vietnam. I am extremely conscious that the Authority have a full work programme in the terms of these countries as well as the important ongoing engagement with Vietnam.

Under the provisions of section 73 of the Adoption Act, 2010, "the Authority, with the prior consent of the Minister, may enter into discussions with any non-contracting state concerning the possibility of the Government entering into a bilateral agreement with that State ." The AAI have not sought my consent in relation to Taiwan to date.

The Authority and my officials held exploratory meetings with Russian authorities in December in relation to preliminary discussions around the potential for a bilateral on intercountry adoption with that State. In addition, I have recently given the AAI approval for the commencement of the process of examining the feasibility of a bilateral agreement with Ethiopia. The assessment of non-Hague countries and the possibility of entering discussions on a bilateral is complex and resource intensive. I have to have regard to the resources available to the AAI and to my Department, and to the work priorities of both.