Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 June 2013
243. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position in relation to the establishment of a bilateral agreement between Ireland and Russia for the purpose of inter-country adoption; if she intends to seek a date for continuation of further talks with the Russian authorities for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31278/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March of this year, I travelled to Moscow, accompanied by Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Chair of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, in order to discuss at a diplomatic level issues in relation to the potential for a bilateral agreement with Russia. During my visit I met with my counter part, Minister Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. This meeting was productive and allowed for an exchange of views on the possibility of Ireland entering into a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption with Russia. The Russian authorities acknowledged the satisfactory outcomes for Russian children adopted in Ireland and expressed a willingness to conclude an agreement with Ireland which will be subject to the approval of the Russian parliament. I stated that many Irish families were hopeful of completing future adoptions of Russian children.
During these meetings I reiterated to the Russian authorities that the Irish Constitution protects the integrity of family life and that once adopted in Ireland the child is treated in the same way as other Irish children. This means that the ability of the State to intervene in a family, when a child’s welfare and protection is not compromised, is limited. I highlighted the implications of this Constitutional imperative in instances where families, who had given commitments to the Russian authorities in regard to the provision of post placement reports, fail to adhere to those commitments. In these instances the State has no legislative power to enforce compliance with the commitments given by Irish families, legal or otherwise, to provide post placement reports.
However, in saying this, I emphasised the high standards of child protection that exist in Ireland for all children and the legislative basis under which these standards are enforced. I emphasised the commitment of the State to intervene in instances where the safety or welfare of any child, adopted or otherwise, is in anyway compromised. I outlined the total commitment of the Irish Government to the child protection and welfare.
My Department has undertaken an examination of the draft bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption proposed by the Russian Federation. In order to progress the development of a bilateral agreement the Department has focused on this issue of post placement reporting in relation to Russian children adopted in Ireland, which the Russian authorities have indicated is a necessary component of any bilateral agreement. To this end a draft wording of the sections of the bilateral agreement that relate to post placement reporting is being developed. My officials are in active discussions with officials in the Office of the Attorney General and in the Department of Foreign Affairs on advancing a draft agreement for consideration by the Russian authorities.
I have invited the Russian authorities to visit Ireland in September in order to finalise consideration of this aspect of the draft bilateral agreement.
