Vol. 510 No. 3
265 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to limit the number of countries from which couples may adopt children; and, if so, the reason for going beyond the terms of the Hague Convention proposals in this matter. [22401/99]
283 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will ensure that the proposed law giving effect to the Hague Convention on inter-country adoption does not eliminate consideration of countries by Irish couples from which adoptions currently take place. [22648/99]
285 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the concerns that proposals from his Department go far beyond the Hague Convention proposals by restricting adoptions to convention countries or to countries where Ireland has a bilateral agreement and by outlawing the work of those agencies that now assist couples to complete an adoption; and if he will take action to allay concerns of couples who stand to suffer unless these proposals are amended. [22650/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 265, 283 and 285 together.
As I outlined in detail to the House on 20 October 1999, the ratification of the Hague Convention will involve major and fundamental amendment of our inter-country adoption laws. The primary objectives of the convention are to provide safeguards to prevent the abduction or the sale of children and to establish a system of co-operation among countries in order to ensure that inter-country adoptions take place in the best interests of the children concerned. In that context, a child centred approach incorporating structures and procedures which accord with good practice in inter-country adoption is being taken into account in the preparation of the legislation.
