Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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970. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the recourse parents have after their three year pre-Hague Declaration has become invalid and similarly for parents with post-Hague Declarations that cannot adopt from countries like Russia and Ethiopia which are not compliant with the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13664/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Section 63 of the Adoption Act 2010 contains a transitional provision allowing those applicants holding valid declarations of eligibility and suitability and with adoptions in progress from Non-Hague countries, to continue with this process for a period of two years from the date of enactment. It also contains a provision for an extension declarations of eligibility and suitability for one additional year after the expiry of the two year period.

Furthermore, the Adoption Amendment Act, 2013 allowed those whose country of choice was Russia (a non-Hague country) and who had a valid declaration of eligibility & suitability to adopt on the 31st October 2013 to continue with the adoption process with an extension to their declarations of a further year.

Holders of valid declarations of eligibility and suitability may however adopt from Hague countries or countries where there is a bilateral agreement in place.

Efforts are ongoing in my Department in relation to a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation. Following a meeting in October 2013 with a delegation of Russian officials for discussions on a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation my Department forwarded to the Russian side further detailed proposals based on the discussions which took place. Following this my Department prepared revised draft wording on a number of specific points which were forwarded to the Russian Authorities in February of this year. In transmitting these revisions to the Russian authorities it was suggested that should these revisions be acceptable to the Russian Federation, it would be useful for both sides to meet again for further discussions.

Ethiopia is currently seeking to bring its adoption standards up to those required under the Hague Convention, however the Authority would need to be satisfied that Ethiopia has reached a stage where intercountry adoptions, if re-commenced could be guaranteed to be ethical or legally sound. I await the Authority's determination in this regard.

The Authority is currently engaging with a number of Hague countries, such as China, India, the USA, Bulgaria, Thailand and the Philippines and is examining the possibility of expanding the number of countries with which it engages.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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971. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Adoption Authority Ireland are adequately trained to deal with and respond to distressed calls from parents who are unable to adopt due to the barriers now put in place from the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13665/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Adoption Authority of Ireland signalled its intentions with regard to the ratification of the Hague Convention from quite some time before its ratification in November 2010 through its website notices, its Annual Report and through public fora with which it engaged. It also briefed the adoption support groups on its intentions in this regard. The Authority has been dealing with callers throughout the transition period and has sought to explain in an empathetic way the direction which the adoption process was taking and has also endeavoured to keep them updated on any significant developments.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Adoption Authority of Ireland is a regulatory body whose statutory functions are prescribed by legislation and while the Authority is always mindful of the stresses and emotional issues which face prospective adoptive parents, it is not charged with the responsibility of counselling applicants on adoption matters. This task would be seen as part of the assessment and follow up process provided by the Child and Family Agency. However, the Authority does have a number of professional Social Workers among its staff who can be called upon, when necessary to deal with those applicants who require professional support.