Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:100 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will bring before Dáil Éireann the promised legislation to give full effect to the Hague Convention on Inter Country Adoptions. [14563/98]
Written Answers. - Adoption Legislation.
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:101 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to bring forward legislation to consolidate the seven adoption Acts into one new Act as requested by the Adoption Board in its annual report of 1997; and, if so, when he will bring this legislation before Dáil Éireann. [14564/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together.
I have recently received approval from the Department of Finance for the appointment of extra staff to the child care area of my Department. This includes six posts to establish a division dealing specifically with the preparation of legislation in the child care and adoption area. The preparation of the legislation to enable the State to ratify the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Inter-country Adoption is complex and it is difficult to give a precise timescale at this stage. However, the matter is being afforded a high priority.
I accept the need to consolidate our existing adoption Acts. However, the two priorities in regard to adoption legislation are the preparation of legislation to provide a framework for post adoption contact and legislation to enable ratification of the Hague Convention.