Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason, as part of the Health Service Executive assessment of applicants, a person wishing to adopt is required to nominate a single country that they wishes to adopt from and any subsequent approval to adopt is then limited to adoptions from that same country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19589/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As part of the assessment process in relation to an application for a declaration of eligibility and suitability to adopt, applicants are required to select a country from which they would like to adopt and must research the country and the specific needs in relation to adopting a child from this country. The social worker assesses applicants with reference to the known needs of children from different countries and the specific capacities of these particular applicants to meet the needs of a child adopted from this area. Following the issuance of a declaration to adopt, should an applicant wish to change to another country they may contact their social worker for an updated assessment in this regard.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason in the context of intercountry adoption, that a declaration of suitability is only valid for a period of two years; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in many cases this period is insufficient to complete an adoption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19590/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The expiration of declarations is covered under Section 41 (1) of the Adoption Act, 2010. The section provides that a declaration of eligibility and suitability expires after 24 months from the date of issuance of the declaration or after a further period of not more than 12 months that the Adoption Authority may specify. I understand that at the time of drafting of the legislation it was felt that this provided an adequate period following the initial assessment of applicants to complete an adoption. Given the changing landscape of intercountry adoption, this may no longer be the case. I am currently examining a number of proposals in relation to amendments to the Adoption Act, 2010. I intend to bring forward any changes to the legislation in conjunction with the draft Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2013, which I propose to bring before the Oireachtas in the coming months. However, any change to the length of validity of a declaration must be weighed up against the necessity to ensure that an applicant's current situation in relation to their suitability to adopt is taken in to account in the adoption process.