Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
1012. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that the adoption waiting lists for countries like the Philippines are regularly updated to ensure withdrawals are removed from the list; so as not to hold up places that could otherwise be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34325/13]
View answerThe responsibility for the registration of intercountry adoptions is a matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), an independent quasi-judicial entity established under the Adoption Act 2010. It is a matter for the AAI to ensure that all adoptions are made in accordance with the provisions of the Adoption Act 2010. Accordingly, as Minister, it is not open to me to intervene in individual cases.
The Authority has advised that this year it has received four referrals this year from the Philippines. In three cases these referrals have been refused. One the basis that the age of the child referred to Ireland was outside the age range for which the prospective adoptive parents had been assessed. Two further adoptions were not continued with by the prospective adoptive parents due to changed domestic or financial circumstances.
The AAI would encourage all prospective adoptive parents who wish to withdraw from the adoption process to inform the AAI and-or their Accredited Body immediately.
