Adoption Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2010

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Ceisteanna (103)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

133 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will put in place a transitional agreement to facilitate adoption applicants who have already submitted applications in advance of the enactment of the Adoption Bill 2010; if all applicants for domestic adoption will now have to be assessed for eligibility and suitability by the appropriate regional Health Service Executive adoption service pending the accreditation of suitable agencies; and if her attention has been drawn to the inevitable difficulties this long and gruelling process will cause respective parents and young children and when an accreditation process of adoption agencies will commence. [43180/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews)

The Adoption Act, 2010, commenced on 1st November 2010. The Adoption Authority was also established on that day. This is now a matter for the Adoption Authority.

The purpose of the Adoption Act, 2010, is to improve standards in both domestic and intercountry adoption. The regulatory framework governing adoption has been strengthened in an attempt to ensure that the best interests of children are protected at every step throughout the adoption process.

Accredited bodies — organisations delivering adoption services — must comply with the terms of the legislation, which was first published in January 2009. The new legislation seeks to end the practice whereby a single adoption agency could provide the full range of adoption services, from pre-birth counselling to post birth placement with prospective parents. This was a very clear policy decision taken to avoid the obvious conflicts that could arise. The registration of accredited bodies is a matter for the Adoption Authority and any queries in this regard should be addressed to the Authority.