Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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614. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the bilateral agreement between Ireland and Russia on inter-country adoptions; the reason more progress is not being made on this issue; the obstacles to progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21578/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Efforts are ongoing in my Department in relation to a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation. It was intended that officials visit Russia in January of this year; however, it was decided to liaise with officials in the Ministry of Education and Science in Russia to ensure that Irish proposals in regard the provision of post placement reports are acceptable to the Russian Federation before continuing the detailed negotiations.

The Irish Constitution protects the integrity of family life and once adopted in Ireland the child is treated in the same way as other Irish children. This means that the ability of the State to intervene in a family, when a child’s welfare and protection is not compromised, is limited. The Department has advised the Russian Federation of this Constitutional imperative in instances where families, who had given commitments to the Russian authorities in regard to the provision of post placement reports, fail to adhere to those commitments. In these instances the State has no legislative power to enforce compliance with the commitments given by Irish families, legal or otherwise, to provide post placement reports. It is imperative that this matter is fully addressed so as to ensure that further discussions on other aspects of the bilateral agreement are beneficial.