Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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529. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with regard to the planned legislation to ratify the Hague convention and the engagement with the relevant stakeholders the plans undertaken to carry this out the actions to date to engage with other Hague convention countries or to develop bilateral agreements with non-Hague convention countries to prevent the current situation; the actions being taken to engage with other Hague convention countries or to develop bilateral agreements with non-Hague convention countries; if she is in a position to state which countries are opened to post Hague PAPs with what expected leadtimes in effecting an ICA; and the reason there was no Irish representation at a recent meeting with the Cambodian authorities as this country is planning to be opened to ICA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16168/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Recent years have seen a significant fall-off in the number of intercountry adoptions taking place internationally. The total number of children adopted into the top twelve receiving states in 2004 was 43,142. In 2011, this figure had dropped to 21,911 – a drop of 50 per cent. The United States which receives by far the largest number of adoptions has seen a reduction of almost 60 per cent over this period.

These trends reflect the significant decline in recent years in the number of children, particularly infants, available for adoption, as child protection safeguards have improved in developing countries which previously placed large numbers of children for adoption. In many cases these reforms in countries of origin have been given expression and impetus by their ratification of the Hague Convention. The Convention requires members to strengthen protections for children, birth parents and prospective adoptive parents in the adoption process and to prioritise the improvement of systems for the care and adoption of children domestically. This requirement is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular Article 21. With the passing of the Adoption Act 2010 Ireland ratified the Hague Convention on the 1st November 2010 and is now one of 93 contracting States to the Convention.

Very significant efforts have been underway on the part of the Adoption Authority - with strong support from myself and my Department - to promote cooperation in intercountry adoption with relevant countries. The Adoption Authority has successfully concluded administrative agreements with both Vietnam and the US. The Adoption Authority is currently engaging with a number of Hague Convention countries in relation to intercountry adoptions including Bulgaria, China, Thailand, the Philippines and India. The Adoption Authority has recently visited Haiti as part of an initial examination of intercountry adoption with Haiti.

It is important to recognise that, although a country may be a member of Hague, legal and administrative obstacles may remain, there may be no children available for adoption or restrictions may be imposed in relation to the categories of children or prospective adoptive parents qualifying.

I am also aware that Ethiopia is currently seeking to bring its adoption standards up to those required under the Hague Convention and I have asked the Adoption Authority to keep me updated on the position.

Russia has not ratified the Hague Convention. However, my Department is continuing its discussion with the Russian authorities with a view to exploring the possibilities of establishing a bi-lateral agreement.

With regard to Cambodia, the Authority advises that it has no direct links with the adoption authorities in Cambodia and Ireland has no resident diplomatic presence in Cambodia. The Authority was not aware of any recent meetings regarding intercountry adoption from that country.