Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2014
77. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide details of his priorities to advance further opportunities for inter-country adoptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27904/14]
View answerRecent years have seen a significant fall-off in the number of intercountry adoptions taking place internationally. These trends reflect the significant decline in recent years in the number of children, particularly infants, available for adoption, as child welfare and protection systems have improved in developing countries which previously placed large numbers of children for adoption. In many cases these reforms in countries of origin have been given expression and impetus by their ratification of the Hague Convention. The Convention requires members to strengthen protections for children, birth parents and prospective adoptive parents in the adoption process and to prioritise the improvement of systems for the care and adoption of children domestically. This requirement is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular Article 21. With the passing of the Adoption Act 2010 Ireland ratified the Hague Convention on the 1st November 2010 and is now one of 93 contracting States to the Convention.
The Adoption Authority continues to promote co-operation in intercountry adoption with relevant countries. The Adoption Authority has successfully concluded administrative arrangements with both Vietnam and the US and adoptions from these countries are continuing. In recent weeks adoptions have recommenced from Vietnam for the first time since 2009. The Adoption Authority is currently engaging with a number of other Hague Convention countries in relation to intercountry adoptions including Bulgaria, China, Thailand, the Philippines and India. The Authority has recently visited Haiti as part of an initial examination of intercountry adoption with Haiti.
It is important to recognise that, although a country may be a member of Hague, legal and administrative obstacles may remain, there may be no children available for adoption, restrictions may be imposed in relation to the categories of children or prospective adoptive parents qualifying or the host country may not wish to prioritise co-operation with Ireland from among the countries wishing to establish relations.
With regard to dealings with non-Hague countries, work is ongoing in relation to discussions on a bilateral adoption agreement with the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation have advised the Irish Embassy in Moscow that all proposed adoption agreements are currently on hold while the Russian Government considers proposals in relation to how they deal with adoption agreements in general. It is understood that the Russian Federation's Supreme Court recently made recommendations regarding adoption agreements and these are currently being considered by the Russian Government. It is hoped that following the Russian Government's consideration of these matters they will be in a position to examine and respond to the Irish proposals.
I am also aware that Ethiopia is currently seeking to bring its adoption standards up to those required under the Hague Convention and I have asked the Adoption Authority to keep me updated on the position. Work is ongoing in relation to trying to establish the position of the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Ethiopia with regard to the desire of the Ethiopian authorities to enter into talks in relation to a bilateral agreement with Ireland.
