Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 February 2014
224. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the negotiations between the Adoption Authority of Ireland and the Russian authorities regarding the bilateral agreement on inter-country adoptions and when will the AAI have finalised the wording of the agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8768/14]
View answerEfforts are ongoing in my Department in relation to a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation. Following my invitation to the Russian Ministry of Education and Science in August 2013, a delegation of Russian officials travelled to Ireland in October 2013 for discussions on a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation. The meeting of the 22nd October 2013 was very positive and detailed discussions took place between the Russian officials and officials from my Department, the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the HSE. At the meeting significant progress was made and my Department, in early November 2013, forwarded to the Russian side further detailed proposals based on the discussions which took place.
My Department prepared revised draft wording on a number of specific points which were recently forwarded to the Russian Authorities. It was suggested that should these revisions be acceptable to the Russian Federation, it would be useful for both sides to meet again for further discussions.
