Michael McCarthy
Question:566. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding Ethiopian adoptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2399/13]
View answerTuesday, 22 January 2013
Questions (566, 574)
Pat Breen
Question:574. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding inter country adoptions with Belarus and Ethiopia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2793/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 566 and 574 together.
All inter country adoptions must meet the requirements of the Adoption Act 2010 including the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter Country Adoption.
Ethiopia is not a signatory of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. In these circumstances, future adoptions from Ethiopia would require a bilateral agreement between Ireland and Ethiopia. The negotiation of bilateral agreements on intercountry adoption with states who have not ratified the Hague Convention is governed by Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010 which states that "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."
The Adoption Authority delegation visit to Ethiopia in April of 2012 was an initial part of the Authority's deliberations on the feasibility and suitability of entering into discussions with Ethiopia on a bilateral adoption agreement. The Authority forwarded a report of their visit to me in May 2012. The Authority is awaiting legal advice regarding the compatibility of the Irish and Ethiopian adoption legislation. The Authority has also informed me that it has asked the Irish Embassy to make the appropriate contacts in the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Ethiopia with a view to verifying the stance of the Ethiopian authorities to entering into exploratory talks in relation to a bilateral agreement. I await the AAI advice in this regard.
According to information provided by the Adoption Authority, there have been no applications for registration of foreign adoptions from Belarus since 2007, when one application relating to an adoption effected in 2002 was made.
Belarus has ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. However, the National Central Authority of Belarus has not indicated that it will accept applications from persons resident in Ireland. Legal issues exist including the monitoring of post placement reports, registration of the adopted child at the Belarussian embassy in London and consular visits to the homes of adoptive parents.
Prospective adoptive parents with a valid Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to Adopt who are undertaking an intercountry adoption should ensure the adoption complies fully with the Adoption Act, 2010 and the Hague Convention. Further information in this regard can be found on the Adoption Authority website (www.aai.gov.ie).