Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding Irish citizens adopting children from Florida in the USA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29973/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Adoption Authority of Ireland posted an update on its website on 15 June 2012 advising that the following procedure should be followed for adoptions from the United States. The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) sends an Article 15 Assessment Report on the prospective adoptive parents to a Hague Convention approved Accredited Body nominated in advance by the prospective adoptive parents. The Accredited Body sends an Article 16 Child Report to the AAI. If the AAI approves the proposed placement and the referral is accepted by the prospective adoptive parents, the AAI will issue an Article 17 Placement Approval Notice to the Accredited Body nominated by the prospective adoptive parents. The Accredited Body may then place the child with the prospective adoptive parents.

Prospective adoptive parents should not take custody of a child or accept a placement prior to the Adoption Authority of Ireland issuing an Article 17 Placement Approval Notice. The AAI also advises that the National Central Authority for the United States of America (the State Department) has informed the AAI that the State Department is the only Agency in the USA authorised to issue an Article 23 certificate. Further details will be announced on the Adoption Authority of Ireland's website.