Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 May 1997

Vol. 479 No. 1

Written Answers. - Foreign Adoptions.

Michael Woods

Question:

21 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Health the recommendations for action, if any, which have been formulated by the interdepartmental committee on Paraguayan adoptions, established by the Cabinet Committee on Children's Services, which has been considering the legal position with regard to Paraguayan adoptions and the practical difficulties being encountered by families with currently unrecognised simple adoptions from Paraguay; the action, if any, he proposes to take in relation to the legal position and practical difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12343/97]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. Currie)

The Interdepartmental Committee on Paraguayan Adoptions has considered the legal and practical difficulties faced by families who have effected ordinary adoptions in Paraguay and has put forward a number of possible solutions in this regard. However, it would be premature to proceed with any concrete proposals until the legal position with regard to the recognition of ordinary Paraguayan adoptions has been clarified.

Michael Woods

Question:

22 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Health whether the Adoption Board has received the opinions it sought from practising lawyers in Guatemala and Peru six or more months ago in relation to the proposals contained in the Adoption (No. 2) Bill, 1996, for facilitating the recognition of foreign adoptions; whether opinions have been sought by the Adoption Board from practising lawyers in Rwanda and South Korea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12344/97]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. Currie)

The Adoption Board decided on 17 December 1996 that adoptions effected in Rwanda qualified for recognition under section 1 of the Adoption Act, 1991. The board decided on 7 May 1997 that full adoptions effected in Peru also qualified for recognition under the Act.

The board is still seeking a legal opinion from a practising lawyer in Guatemala regarding that country's adoption law. No legal opinion has been received from South Korea and there are no applications in relation to adoption from that country currently before the board.