Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Frances Fitzgerald.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
The HSE was asked for an update on the position and has provided the following information
in addition to that already provided:-
The Report recommendation that a review of the effectiveness of the Home Management
Services in respect of working with families where chronic neglect is an identified issue has
been completed and a pilot project has been undertaken in South Roscommon looking at
improving communications between Social Workers and other disciplines. This project is
underway and is scheduled for review in May, 2012. The Sexual Abuse Treatment Unit established
in Galway is due to be evaluated shortly by the HSE.
Adoption Services
104. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she
and the Adoption Authority of Ireland will take to define, investigate and remedy illegal Irish
adoptions, both domestic and inter-country, in particular to ensure that adopted persons’ identities
have not been erased or altered thus to make future searches for or by original families
impossible. [8080/12]
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The question raised
by the Deputy must be considered in the context of both current and historic adoptions.
In relation to current adoption practice, with effect from 1 November 2010, intercountry
adoptions can be effected with other countries which have ratified the Hague Convention or
with countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. The Hague Convention is a cooperative
agreement drawn up to allow countries to mutually support one another in protecting
the best interests of children in the intercountry adoption process. It is designed in such a way
as to allow for mirrored mechanisms and structures to mutually assure countries of the safety
and standard of intercountry adoptions in those countries. The Adoption Authority of Ireland
(AAI) performs the function of a Central Authority under the Adoption Act 2010, in accordance
with the Convention. In choosing to deal primarily with Hague countries, the AAI has
the mechanism to work collaboratively with equivalent structures in that country. Each Central
Authority has the responsibility to oversee standards in respect of those parts of the process
taking place within their respective jurisdictions. This mutual arrangement is designed to give
the AAI, the Government and, most importantly, those involved in the adoption process assurance
as to the standards being set and the oversight of the system.
It is not realistic that the Government, or the AAI, could regulate activities relating to the
adoption process outside of these State-to-State arrangements. Nor would it be possible for the
AAI to work on a case by case basis to oversee individual adoptions extra-jurisdictionally as
they are being effected. A system whereby the AAI considered whether adoptions are compliant
with the required standards after they have been effected would be unfair both to the
children and prospective adoptive parents involved. It leaves open the possibility of adoptions
being unrecognised which is contrary to the best interests of the child. The role of the Central
Authority in the sending country is therefore critical to the process of national assurance.
The recent statements in the House on the issue of intercountry adoptions provided an
opportunity for Deputies to raise a number of important issues around this issue. I found the
debate to be constructive and informative and I was particularly pleased to note the many
contributions, including that of the Deputy, highlighting the central importance of the best
interests of the children concerned in all our intercountry adoption activities.
As regards historic cases the Adoption Authority of Ireland holds records of adoptions
effected since the introduction of statutory adoption in 1952. It holds no records relating to
birth registrations.
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