The Heads of Bill on the Adoption (Hague Convention, Adoption Authority and Miscellaneous) Bill, which when enacted will ratify the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, 1993, are currently being drafted into a Bill in the Parliamentary Counsel's office. I hope that the Bill will be published in the earlier part of 2006.
The Bill includes proposals regarding the imposition of an upper age limit for people who wish to be assessed for inter-country adoption. It has been decided to impose a maximum age of 50. This age limit will apply to individuals and to the younger of a couple at the time they apply to be assessed for inter-country adoption.