Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2012
576 Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applicants currently waiting to proceed with adopting children from Vietnam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3390/12]
View answerThe Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is due to enter into force for Vietnam on 1 February 2012. I have just returned from a very positive visit to Vietnam focusing on intercountry adoption. My visit coincided with a visit of a delegation from the Adoption Authority of Ireland led by the Chairman, Mr Geoffrey Shannon, to Vietnam to discuss administrative matters. My visit provided the opportunity for direct, personal engagement with the Vietnamese authorities, and the fostering of co-operation between our two countries on intercountry adoption.
The Adoption Authority are continuing to advance the development of an administrative agreement with Vietnam, which was the subject of their separate discussions during the recent visit. The Authority is also continuing work on the accreditation of agencies to work in Vietnam. The Authority informs me that the accreditation, by the AAI, of one or more adoption agencies to work in Vietnam in order to assist Irish couples is in progress. The agency accredited to work in Vietnam will work with the Authority in terms of processing applicants interested in adopting from Vietnam.
As Vietnam has been closed since 2010, the Authority do not directly hold information on numbers of applicants hoping to proceed to that country. However, I understand from information obtained from adoption providers that in the region of 350 prospective adopters have indicated a preference for Vietnam. It should be noted that this figure is indicative and the data has not been validated. It is to be expected that a number of these applicants will have, at this stage, proceeded to adopt from another country.
577 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of bilateral adoption agreements Ireland has with other states; and the names of those states. [3452/12]
View answer578 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the bilateral adoption agreements that Ireland holds with other states; and the dates on which they will lapse. [3462/12]
View answer582 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to authorise the Adoption Authority to commence negotiations with the Ethiopian authorities regarding the prospect of establishing a bilateral adoption agreement. [3476/12]
View answer583 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if section 73 of the Adoption Act has ever been utilised to allow the Adoption Authority, with her consent and having regard to the principles of the Hague Convention, to enter discussions with a non-contracting state to the convention for the purposes of entering a bilateral agreement with that state. [3477/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 577, 578, 582 and 583 together.
With effect from 1 November 2010, intercountry adoptions can be effected with other countries which have ratified the Hague Convention. Adoptions may also be effected with countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. The Hague Convention is a minimum set of standards in intercountry adoption in areas such as subsidiarity, consent and financial considerations. Accordingly, the priority focus for the Adoption Authority is the putting in place of administrative arrangements with other countries which have ratified the Hague Convention. Any bilateral arrangements which might be entered into would also need to meet the minimum standards as set out in the Hague Convention.
The negotiation of bilateral agreements on intercountry adoption with states which have not ratified the Hague Convention is governed by Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010. Ireland has not to date entered into a bilateral agreement in respect of intercountry adoption. Under Section 73 of the Act, "the Authority, with the prior consent of the Minister, may enter into discussions with any non-contracting state concerning the possibility of the Government entering into a bilateral agreement with that State.”
Before Christmas I wrote to the AAI giving approval for the commencement of the process of examining the feasibility of a bilateral agreement with Ethiopia. The AAI have confirmed that, with the assistance of the Irish embassy in Addis Ababa, they are seeking an expert legal narrative and description of the current Ethiopian adoption law. This will be examined by the AAI to test for compatibility and compliance with the Adoption Act 2010.
In addition, the Authority and my officials held exploratory meetings with the Russian authorities in December. A delegation visited Russia in relation to preliminary discussions around the potential for a bilateral on intercountry adoption. This was a follow up to previous discussions which took place earlier in the year, on the initiative of the Russian authorities.
