Vol. 509 No. 6
384 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, the Mini ster of State with special responsibility for children has to visit Russia; if so, if the issue of Irish citizens adopting Russian children will be discussed on his visit; if he will give full details in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21701/99]
I raised the possibility of closer co-operation between the Russian and Irish authorities on the issue of the adoption of Russian children by Irish couples with the Russian Ambassador at a meeting on 2 February 1999. I have also been pursuing the possibility of visiting Russia with officials from the Department of Health and Children and the Adoption Board to meet with the appropriate Russian authorities. Details are being finalised with the relevant Departments in Moscow with a view to a trip in the coming months. The purpose of the trip will be to discuss various issues surrounding inter-country adoption from Russia and the possibility of concluding a working arrangement with the Russian authorities similar to those agreed with the Chinese and Thai authorities by the Adoption Board in recent times.
