Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on meetings with the relevant Russian authorities in relation to changes in Russian adoption legislation that has meant that a number of prospective adoptive parents here may now be unable to adopt. [40846/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to changes introduced in July this year to the adoption legislation in the Russian Federation. I am aware of the serious implications which now arise for several prospective adoptive parents who believed that they were at an advanced stage in the adoptions process. I can confirm that the Irish Embassy in Moscow approached the relevant Russian authorities shortly after the introduction of the new provisions in order to clarify the impact on prospective adoptive parents. The Russian Ministry of Education and Science advised the Embassy that all Russian orphaned children, including those already referred to prospective parents, must now be on the national adoptions database for an additional 6 months than was previously the case, before being eligible for international adoption. In response to a subsequent request from my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald T.D., who has lead responsibility on this matter, I asked our Embassy in Moscow to seek an urgent meeting with the relevant Russian authorities to see whether there may be any scope to waive new regulations in respect of prospective adoptive parents from Ireland who have been most affected by the new Russian provisions.

The Ambassador has since discussed the matter with the Deputy Foreign Minister, seeking some flexibility on their part in dealing with the unique set of circumstances that these Irish families find themselves in and seeking his assistance in arranging a meeting with the Minister for Education and Science, who has lead responsibility on the Russian side. I very much hope that this meeting can take place soon.

Minister Fitzgerald has also discussed the matter with the Russian Chargé d’Affaires in Dublin and her Department will host a delegation of Russian officials later this month for further talks on a proposed bilateral adoptions agreement between Ireland and the Russian Federation.

Let me conclude by saying that I have the greatest sympathy for those who believed they were nearing the end of the process of adoption only now to find themselves in an exceptionally difficult situation as a result of the changes in Russian procedures. Indeed, my Department has been in contact with a number of prospective parents in Ireland who fear that they will now be unable to complete their adoptions before 31 October 2013 when their Irish certificates of eligibility are due to expire under the Adoptions Act 2010. I hope that a satisfactory arrangement can be arrived at to accommodate their particular circumstances.