Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
1010. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the procedure to be followed by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to facilitate inter-country adoptions in respect of two children who are family relatives whose country of origin is Ghana; if such adoption can be effected through the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34317/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe responsibility for the registration of intercountry adoptions is a matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), an independent quasi-judicial entity established under the Adoption Act 2010. It is a matter for the AAI to ensure that all adoptions are made in accordance with the provisions of the Adoption Act 2010. Accordingly, as Minister, it is not open to me to intervene in individual cases.
The Authority has advised me the United Kingdom ratified the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption on 27 February 2003 with effect from 1 June 2003.
Ireland ratified the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption on 28 July 2010 with effect from 1 November 2010.
Article 2 of the Hague Convention states that the Convention shall apply where a child habitually resident in one Contracting State (e.g. the United Kingdom) has been, is being, or is to be moved to another Contracting State (e.g. Ireland) either after his or her adoption in the State of origin by spouses or a person habitually resident in the receiving State, or for the purposes of such an adoption in the receiving State or in the State of origin. The Convention covers only adoptions which create a permanent parent-child relationship.
The United Kingdom has four National Central Authorities, i.e. one each for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The designated Central Authority to which any communication may be addressed for transmission to the appropriate Central Authority is
Intercountry Adoption Casework Team, Ground Floor Area D, Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington Co. Durham DL3 9BG - Telephone: 0370 000 2288 Email: ica.darlington@education.gsi.gov.uk.
Department for Education, Castle View House, East Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 2GJ.
