Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has requested a report from the Irish embassy in Addis Ababa as per her response in Dáil Éireann on 1 December 2011 in relation to the issue of establishing a bilateral agreement with Ethiopia to facilitate inter-country adoptions; when she expects the report to be forthcoming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3238/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Officials from my Department have been in contact with the Embassy in Ethiopia requesting an update to the detailed assessment of intercountry adoption procedures, which was provided by the Embassy in June 2010. This update is expected shortly.

In addition, I have given the AAI approval for the commencement of the process of examining the feasibility of a bilateral agreement with Ethiopia. The AAI , with the assistance of the Irish embassy in Addis Ababa, are seeking an expert legal narrative and description of the current Ethiopian adoption law. This will be examined by the AAI to test for compatibility and compliance with the Adoption Act 2010.