Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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607. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will commence the Haiti international adoption programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22790/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Adoption Authority of Ireland has responsibility for implementing the Adoption Act 2010, including Ireland's responsibilities under the Hague Convention in relation to inter-country adoption. As Haiti has ratified the Hague Convention inter country adoption from Haiti is a matter between Central Authorities. The Authority must now determine how to progress this matter

Haiti ratified the Hague Convention on 1 April 2014. In May 2014 the Adoption Authority of Ireland accredited Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency to facilitate inter country adoption between Ireland and Haiti. Helping Hands applied for accreditation by Institut du Bien-Être Social et de Recherches(IBESR), the central authority of inter country adoption in Haiti. Helping Hands has been formally approved by IBESR to mediate adoptions from Haiti.

In March 2017 the Adoption Authority of Ireland and a representative from Helping Hands Mediation Agency visited Haiti. The Authority submitted a report of this visit to my Department on 10 May 2017.