I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 to 383, inclusive, together.
At a meeting at the US State Department in September which was attended by myself and the Chairman of the Adoption Authority, the administrative arrangement in relation to intercountry adoption from the USA which had been agreed between Ireland and the USA was given effect. It was agreed that adoptions from the USA into Ireland will continue and that all adoptions between the two States will be carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 1993 Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.
Pending the delegation of functions to an Irish based accredited body working in the USA, the Authority will continue to send Article 15 assessment reports to US adoption service providers. The Authority advises that should certain functions under the Hague Convention be delegated to an accredited body there may be a charge to applicants for this service, including the possibility of a lesser charge for a partial service where the process was initiated prior to the delegation date. Any proposed fees to be charged by an accredited body must be approved by the Authority prior to their commencement.