Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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942. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to explain the exact application process and guidelines that must be satisfied for a family to legally adopt a non-EU national child not residing in the State. [13123/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Adoption Act 2010 provides for intercountry adoption between countries that have ratified the Hague Convention or between countries with whom Ireland has a bilateral agreement under Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010. The Act gives force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, provides a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child. Any adoption from a Hague country must comply with the Adoption Act, 2010 and the Hague Convention.

Applicants for intercountry adoption must apply to the Child and Family Agency in the first instance and then undergo a detailed statutory assessment process. This assessment is undertaken by professional Social Workers, and must be approved by the Adoption Authority before a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to Adopt can be issued to them from the Authority.