John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1203. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the Government policy and process relative to Irish citizens wishing to adopt a child from Bulgaria; the regulated structures that are in place to enable such adoptions to be arranged; the international agreements that Ireland has signed up to relative to foreign adoption arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9745/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Ireland ratified the Hague Convention on the protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption on 1 November 2010. The Adoption Act 2010 provides for intercountry adoption between countries that have ratified the Hague Convention such as Bulgaria, or between countries with whom Ireland has a bilateral agreement under Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010. The Act, 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 Tusla the Child and Family Agency in the first instance and then undergo a detailed assessment process. This assessment is undertaken by professional Social Workers, and must be approved by the Adoption Authority of Ireland before a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to Adopt can be issued by the Authority. Adoptions are currently ongoing from Vietnam, the USA, China, Thailand, the Philippines, and Bulgaria.

Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency is accredited by the Adoption Authority of Ireland to facilitate inter country adoptions from Bulgaria.