Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2010
103 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the delays being encountered by couples waiting to adopt from the Philippines; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that it now taking two to three years for Irish couples to receive their referrals from the Philippines; the steps she will take to reduce this delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20767/10]
View answerThe Adoption Bill 2009 is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child. Future inter-country adoption arrangements will be governed by the terms of the Adoption Bill 2009 when enacted.
The Philippines has ratified the Hague Convention on the Protection and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption and its domestic adoption law is compatible with Ireland. The issue of waiting times for referrals of children to Irish prospective adoptive parents with a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to Adopt is a matter for the authorities in the Philippines having due regard to their inter-country adoption procedures, including the application of the principle of subsidiarity as set out in the Hague Convention.
