Vol. 524 No. 2
255 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children when the new guidelines on foreign adoptions will be prepared for general practitioners and consultants who act as medical referees for individuals or couples trying for adoption. [21913/00]
One of the recommendations of the report, Towards a Standardised Framework for Intercountry Adoption Assessment Procedures, which was published in July 1999 was to establish, under the aegis of the adoption board, a group of medical advisers to review the subject of health status of applicants and prepare guidance for doctors preparing reports and health board intercountry adoption medical advisers. Plans are now in train to establish a small working group to prepare appropriate guidelines. I understand that the adoption board is in correspondence with the chief executive officers group concerning the appointment of appropriate nominees to the working group.
