Vol. 493 No. 2
143 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 17 June 1998 regarding an adoption agency (details supplied) which has a Dublin telephone number and address and it is therefore mistaken to suggest that it is foreign, he will proceed to investigate this organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15538/98]
While the organisation referred to by the Deputy may have a Dublin address and telephone number I understand from inquiries made by the Department of Foreign Affairs that the organisation is American in origin. As I explained in response to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 17 June 1998, the Adoption Board has no regulatory powers at present in regard to foreign adoption agencies operating in Ireland and offering services in regard to inter-country adoption. The Adoption Act, 1991, does not provide for regulation of such agencies. This issue will be addressed in the legislation to ratify the Hague Convention.
