Jack Wall
Question:121 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the attached submission regarding adoptees; the actions taken or to be taken to overcome the problems raised. [30224/11]
View answerWednesday, 19 October 2011
Questions (121, 122)
Written answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Clare Daly
Question:122 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason Ireland has not yet signed a bilateral agreement with Russia which would allow Irish people to continue to adopt children from that country; her opinion on whether the significant number of adoptions between the two countries mean that an agreement should be put in place to facilitate continuing co-operation between the two countries in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30296/11]
View answerA core principle of the Hague Convention, which represents the international standard for adoption, is that inter-country adoption should be child-centred. The child's interests must be paramount throughout the adoption process. The Adoption Act 2010, and specifically the regime of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide an assurance for individual children, their families, and the State, that appropriate procedures have been followed and that adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child. As such, all inter-country adoptions must meet the standards of the Hague Convention.
Russia became a signatory to the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption on the 1 September 2000, but has not ratified the Convention. For inter-country adoptions with Russia to continue, it would be necessary to negotiate a bilateral agreement. The negotiation of bilateral agreements on inter-country adoption is primarily the responsibility of the Adoption Authority. As the Hague Convention is designed to ensure a minimum set of standards in inter-country adoption, the Adoption Authority have indicated that their first priority is to reach agreements on arrangements with other Hague countries.
If discussions on a bilateral agreement with Russia were to proceed it would be necessary that the key requirements which underpin the Hague Convention be satisfied to ensure that adoptions under the bilateral agreement with Russia are conducted to a similar standard as those undertaken under the Hague Convention. My Department is keeping the matter under review in conjunction with the Adoption Authority.