Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:28 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health if he will grant non-governmental organisation status to International Orphan Aid to speed up the process of Chinese adoptions by Irish couples. [20699/96]
Written Answers. - International Orphan Aid.
It is a requirement of the Chinese adoption authorities that applications for the adoption of Chinese children be transmitted by a relevant governmental organisation or by a recognised non-governmental organisation. The Adoption Board, which has statutory responsibility under the Adoption Act, 1991, for the regulation and recognition of adoptions effected outside the State by Irish residents, has agreed to undertake the task of transmitting documents on behalf of prospective adopters to the China Centre for Adoption Affairs in Beijing. The relevant Chinese authorities have been informed accordingly through the diplomatic channel.
In the light of this development, the need for the recognition of a non-governmental organisation for this purpose does not arise. Having said that, I do of course acknowledge that International Orphan Aid has built up a level of expertise in relation to the adoption of children from the People's Republic of China and that it provides important support to prospective adopters. It seems to me that it could have a valuable role to play in assisting the Adoption Board in the work that the Board has agreed to undertake. I would therefore suggest that the organisation might make contact with the board to explore this possibility.