Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 504 together.

I recently travelled to Moscow, accompanied by Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Chair of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, in order to discuss at a diplomatic level issues in relation to the potential for a bilateral agreement with Russia. During my visit I met with my counterpart, Minister Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. This meeting was productive and allowed for an exchange of views on the possibility of Ireland entering into a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption with Russia.

The Russian authorities acknowledged the satisfactory outcomes for Russian children adopted in Ireland and expressed a willingness to conclude an agreement with Ireland which would be subject to the approval of the Russian parliament. My Department, in consultation with the AAI, is continuing efforts to draft wording of a bilateral agreement, including in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, which would satisfy our legal and Constitutional requirements, in particular in relation to the Russian requirement for post adoption reports. The wording of the draft bilateral agreement will be a matter of consideration by the Attorney General's office in advance of any further discussions with the Russian authorities.

The Authority advises that a question has arisen with regard to the interpretation of Section 63 of the Adoption Act, 2010. Therefore the Board has adjourned making a decision on a small number of applications for an entry in the Register of Intercountry Adoptions while the Board seeks advice from its legal advisors.