Written answers

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Inter-Country Adoptions

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the progress made to date that she has made concerning inter country adoptions; the progress that the Adoption Authority has made in relation to establishing administrative arrangements with the Hague countries regarding inter country adoptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6858/13]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under section 72 of the Adoption Act 2010, the Adoption Authority may enter into administrative arrangements with another contracting State to the Hague Convention. An administrative arrangement is not mandatory for intercountry adoption between countries that are both signatories to Hague. However some contracting states, including Ireland, may determine that in some instances co-operation in the field of intercountry adoption is best served by the development of such arrangements.

The Adoption Authority is continuing its work to establish administrative arrangements with a number of Hague countries in relation to intercountry adoptions, as provided for under section 72 of the Adoption Act 2010. The Authority has travelled to a number of jurisdictions in order to make contact with the Central Authorities, advise of our processes and procedures, assess the need for additional administrative arrangements or agreements; and to glean as much information as possible of relevance to prospective adopters from those countries. The visits also provide opportunities to streamline processes on both sides and obtain up-to-date information for prospective adopters on developments in these countries.

In September 2012 the AAI and the Vietnamese Central Authority for Adoption agreed administrative arrangements for intercountry adoption. This is the first international administrative arrangement for intercountry adoption entered into by the AAI and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since both countries ratified the Hague Convention. I understand that the process of approving accredited bodies by the Vietnamese Central Authority is underway.

A delegation from the Adoption Authority made an official visit to the US State Department in Washington in 2012. Following this visit administrative arrangements in relation to intercountry adoption between the United States of America and Ireland were drafted by the AAI and the Authority informs me that it expects to finalise these arrangements in the near future.

A delegation from the Authority is due to travel to India in the coming weeks to meet with officials from CARA, the Indian Central authority. I have recently met with a group of prospective adoptive parents hoping to adopt from India and I am available for a diplomatic meeting with the Indian authorities should that prove helpful in advancing the administrative arrangements with CARA.

ARC has been accredited to facilitate adoptions from Bulgaria and the Authority informs me that the first referrals from Bulgaria are due shortly.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.