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Inter-Country Adoptions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2015

Thursday, 30 April 2015

Questions (137, 138, 139, 140)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

137. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps that have been taken to complete the negotiation of a bilateral agreement with Russia to enable some of the many thousands of children who remain in state care in that jurisdiction to be legally adopted into loving families here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17103/15]

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Seán Kyne

Question:

138. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the current status on securing a bilateral agreement between Ireland and Russia, which would facilitate inter-country adoptions; and if he will re-affirm his intention to secure such an agreement. [17105/15]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

139. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the negotiation of a bilateral agreement on inter-country adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation; when he expects an agreement to be finalised; and the steps he is taking to bring this long-running matter to a close. [17132/15]

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Mattie McGrath

Question:

140. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action being taken to address concerns (details supplied) regarding adoption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17145/15]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 to 140, inclusive, together.

Efforts are ongoing in my Department in relation to a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation. It was intended to visit Russia in January of this year. However it has been decided to liaise with officials in the Ministry of Education and Science in Russia to ensure that Irish proposals in regard the provision of post placement reports are acceptable to the Russian Federation.

The Irish Constitution protects the integrity of family life and that once adopted in Ireland the child is treated in the same way as other Irish children. This means that the ability of the State to intervene in a family, when a child’s welfare and protection is not compromised, is limited. The Department has advised the Russian Federation of this Constitutional imperative in instances where families, who had given commitments to the Russian authorities in regard to the provision of post placement reports, fail to adhere to those commitments. In these instances the State has no legislative power to enforce compliance with the commitments given by Irish families, legal or otherwise, to provide post placement reports. It is imperative that this matter is fully addressed so as to ensure that further discussions on other aspects of the bilateral agreement are beneficial.

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