Vol. 513 No. 3
207 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will request the Adoption Board to change its ruling on setting a very restrictive upper age limit on couples seeking overseas adoption in view of the fact it discriminates against adoptive parents vis-a-vis natural parents. [2508/00]
As the Minister, Deputy Fahey, outlined to the House last week, the Adoption Board is an independent statutory body with primary responsibility for matters related to adoption. The reasoning behind the Adoption Board's decision has already been elaborated on in detail. I know that this important issue was given careful consideration by the board before any decision was made. The board's experience and expertise in this area is well established and together with its independent status I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to intervene.
Regarding the question of discrimination against adoptive parents, it is considered that in the context of inter-country adoptions it is in the best interest of the child that the parents should fall within the new age limits. I also note that the Adoption Board has pointed out that approximately 90% of couples who have applied to have their inter-country adoptions recognised under Irish law or to have Irish adoption orders made where the board was not in a position to recognise their inter-country adoptions, have come within the board's guidelines on age.
