Statement on Proposed Amendment to the Adoption Bill 2009
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews, T.D., today announced that he will bring forward at Committee stage an amendment to the Adoption Bill 2009 that will enable prospective adoptive parents to proceed with an adoption from a non-Hague or non-bilateral country, if prior to the establishment date, they have been issued with a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to adopt.
As was signalled during Second Stage in the Dáil debate on the Adoption Bill 2009, Minister Andrews has today announced that he will bring forward an amendment to Section 63 of the Adoption Bill 2009 at Dáil Committee Stage.
The Minister stated, “Government has accepted my recommendation that those who wish to proceed with an adoption from a non-Hague or non-bilateral country would be allowed to do so, if prior to the establishment date, they have been issued with a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability. The amendment requires that the Adoption Authority (to be set up under the Act) would be satisfied that the particular adoption meets all the standards of the Hague Convention.”
I sincerely hope that this amendment will be supported at Committee stage and that it provides certainty for couples/individuals engaged in the adoption process.
ENDS
