Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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460. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will reinstate the stakeholder adoption advisory groups established by her predecessor (details supplied). [9372/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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In 2003 then Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan TD, launched a consultation process in regard to adoption. As a result of this process in January 2005 the Department of Health and Children published "Adoption Legislation: 2003 Consultation and Proposals For Change". The Report has served to inform the legislative developments that have taken place since then in particular the Adoption Act 2010 and the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016.

The Adoption Authority of Ireland has operational responsibility for adoption in Ireland. In this regard I am advised by the Authority that it is proactive in its consultation with stakeholders. The Authority continues to meet with various stakeholder groups on a regular basis. These include Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the Departments of Health and Children and Youth Affairs, and the various Bodies accredited to provide adoption services and various country-specific adoption support groups (e.g. Viet South and the Irish Chinese Contact Group).

I am also advised that during 2016, the CEO and/or members of the Authority's Senior Management Team met with the Adoption Rights Alliance, Irish Foster Care Association, Childrens' Rights Alliance and Treoir. The Authority also resumed meetings 'on circuit' which allowed it to meet locally based groups, e.g. 'Know My Own' (Cork), the Sligo Family Resource Centre and Danu. The Authority intends to meet with local adoption groups in Galway and Waterford later this year. Furthermore the Authority has held a variety of information seminars involving all stakeholders.

I have no plans to establish the stakeholder adoption advisory groups but I have asked the Adoption Authority to keep me advised of any issues which arise in their consultation.