Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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340. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of negotiations regarding the establishment of a bilateral agreement with Russia for the purposes of inter-country adoption; if he will provide a detailed timeframe on getting this agreement formalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44149/14]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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344. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 11 July 2012, if he will provide an update on the ongoing negotiations taking place with Russian officials on reaching a bilateral agreement in order that families here may proceed with adoptions of Russian children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44293/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 344 together.

Efforts are ongoing in my Department in relation to a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation. Following a meeting with a delegation of Russian officials in October 2013 my Department prepared revised draft wording on a number of specific points. This was forwarded to the Russian Authorities in February 2014. In transmitting these revisions 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.

In April the Ministry of Education and Science advised the Irish Embassy in Moscow that all proposed adoption agreements were on hold while the Russian Government considered proposals in relation to how they deal with adoption agreements in general.

A reply from the Russian authorities to my Department's revised wording was recently received and is being reviewed in my Department. The Irish side has suggested a meeting in Moscow and I expect that these discussions will take place as soon as a suitable date is agreed.