Adoption Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2009

Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Questions (376)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

467 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children when the Hague Convention is expected to be ratified; the reason the Adoption Board is not checking the law compatibility of other Hague compliant countries prior to application for entry in the adoption register; and if she will make a statement on the countries which will be available to adopters here once the Hague convention is ratified and countries which have children available for adoption. [33508/09]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews)

The Adoption Bill, 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, has passed through Seanad Éireann, and I am actively seeking time for its progression in the current Dáil session.

I firmly believe that legislation and, specifically, the regime of the Hague Convention, provides an assurance for individual children, their families, and the State that appropriate procedures have been followed and that the adoption was affected in the best interests of the child.

The Adoption Board, on an on-going basis, reviews the compatibility of adoption laws in other countries with Irish law. As of today, the Adoption Board has undertaken a review of 42 countries — 19 of which have ratified or acceded to the Hague Convention.