Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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569. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will indicate a time-frame within which Irish couples through the Irish Adoption Authority will be formally able to adopt a child from the USA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22692/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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A delegation from the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) 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. The AAI and US State Department have recently finalised these administrative arrangements.

The AAI has information on its website (www.aai.gov.ie) in relation to intercountry adoption from the USA, including information in relation to the arrangements and the criteria which must be met before the adoption process can proceed. These criteria will apply to all adoptions taking place between Ireland and the United States of America with immediate effect.