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NOTICE - ETHIOPIA - ADVISORY - 1st FEBRUARY 2012
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NOTICE - MEXICO – UPDATED ADVISORY – 25th JANUARY, 2012
NOTICE- Renewal of Section 63 Declarations which will expire on 31st October 2012
NOTICE - MEXICO – QUERIES – 16th JANUARY, 2012
NOTICE - MEXICO – UPDATED ADVISORY – 12th JANUARY, 2012
NOTICE - MEXICO – ADVISORY – 5th JANUARY, 2012
NOTICE – VIETNAM, 30th DECEMBER 2011
NOTICE – RUSSIAN FEDERATION, 22nd DECEMBER 2011
NOTICE - BULGARIA – ADVISORY – 21st DECEMBER, 2011
NOTICE - REVIEW OF ADOPTION LAWS OF COUNTRIES – ADVISORY – 20th DECEMBER, 2011
NOTICE - MEXICO – ADVISORY – 19th DECEMBER, 2011
NOTICE - FLORIDA,USA – ADVISORY – 22nd NOVEMBER, 2011
NOTICE - FLORIDA,USA – ADVISORY – 28th OCTOBER, 2011
NOTICE - FLORIDA,USA – ADVISORY – 20th OCTOBER, 2011
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 18th OCTOBER 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: Arabella Counselling, t/a 'Here2Help'
Address: 18d Nutgrove Office Park, Nutgrove Ave, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.
Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4 (a,b,c,d,h,i,j & k) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 28th SEPTEMBER 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: Pathways to Adoption
Address: Suite 36, The Mall, Beacon Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18.
Tel: 0876631133
website: www.pathways.ie
email:
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Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4 (e,f and g) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE-Department of Children & Youth Affairs State Board Vacancies - September 2011
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NOTICE- VIETNAM - ADVISORY - 29th SEPTEMBER, 2011
NOTICE - MEXICO - ADVISORY - 26th SEPTEMBER, 2011
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NOTICE - THAILAND - ADVISORY - 21st SEPTEMBER, 2011
NOTICE - INDIA - ADVISORY - 21st SEPTEMBER, 2011
NOTICE- VIETNAM - ADVISORY - 19th SEPTEMBER, 2011
NOTICE - FLORIDA,USA – ADVISORY – 13th SEPTEMBER, 2011
The Adoption Authority has been informed by the Health Service Executive that, as and from the 1st of August 2011, the H.S.E. Adoption Service has agreed to take over the management of the adoption files of the Sacred Heart Adoption Society located in Bessborough, Blackrock, Co. Cork.NOTICE - SACRED HEART ADOPTION SOCIETY – ADVISORY – 24th AUGUST, 2011
NOTICE - Vietnam - 10 August, 2011
The Adoption Authority is aware that a number of parents who have adopted from Vietnam are currently having Post Placement Reports (PPRs) prepared in respect of their child(ren) and are anxious to uphold their commitment to provide these to the Vietnamese authorities. The matter of the translation of PPRs into Vietnamese and their subsequent transmission to Vietnam in the absence of an accredited body is being urgently considered at present. It is hoped that a mechanism will be established to manage the translation and transmission of reports in the near future and further developments will be posted to this website.
NOTICE - India- 1 July, 2011
The Adoption Authority has received the following correspondence from the Central Adoption Resource Authority(CARA) in India. Please click on the links below.
CARA Notice to all Central Authorities
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 28 June 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: Clarecare
Address: Harmony Row, Ennis, Co. Clare.
Tel: 065 6828178
Fax: 065 6841310
website: www.clarecare.ie
email:
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Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4 (h and k) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 16 June 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: Families for Children Adoption Agency Limited
Address: Level 1, Unit 12, Woodfort Court, Woodfort Industrial Estate,Santry, Dublin 17.
Tel: 086-8111983
Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4(e,f,g) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 16 June 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: St. Mura’s Adoption Society
Address: Pastoral Centre, Monastery Avenue, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4(k) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 31 May 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: Barnardos Post Adoption Service
Address: Hyde Square, 654 South Circular Road, Dublin 8
Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4(k) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE – AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 31 May 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following amendment to an entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: Cunamh Child Care Agency
Address: CPRSI House, 30 South Anne Street, Dublin 2
Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4(a,b,c,d,h,i,j,k) of the Adoption Act 2010.
Accreditation of Agencies Critical Foundation for Safe and Transparent Adoption Process
Monday, 30th May 2011
The Adoption Authority of Ireland is delighted to mark the launch of ARC Adoption Ltd, the first agency accredited under the Adoption Act, 2010 for the purposes of facilitating prospective adoptive parents in adopting from abroad.
The Chairman, Mr. Geoffrey Shannon, said “The Adoption Act, 2010 provides for a full regime of accreditation and inspection of a whole range of adoption related services. There is a significant elaboration of the requirements for accredited agencies and the Authority’s role in ongoing monitoring and inspection in the new law”. The Authority is currently in the process of accrediting agencies across information and counselling services; assessment services for prospective adoptive parents; placement of children for adoption; tracing & information services for those who have been adopted or have placed children for adoption; as well as agencies that will facilitate prospective adopters in making arrangements to adopt from abroad. “Having a system of accreditation and inspection gives the assurance that everyone involved in and affected by adoption should have. In this sensitive policy area, confidence in the organisations and individuals providing services is critical to the operation of a safe and transparent system of adoption both in Ireland and abroad” the Chairman said.
Six agencies have been accredited to date. Agencies can register for a range of activities. The full list of currently accredited bodies includes:-
· ARC Adoption Ltd – facilitation of prospective adoptive parents seeking to adopt from abroad
· Cunamh Child Care Agency – various activities across Section 4 of Adoption Act 2010 (excluding preparation of reports of assessment of eligibility and suitability)
· International Adoption Association – provision of information/advice to prospective adopters etc
· PACT – preparation of reports of assessment of eligibility and suitability of prospective adoptive parents
· St Attracta’s Adoption Society - adoption information and tracing
· St Patrick’s Guild - adoption information and tracing
· Families for Children Adoption Agency Limited : Tel: 01 8916433 - Website - www.familiesforchildren.ie ; email address - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Health Services Executive is an accredited body for the purposes of the Adoption Act, 2010. A number of other applications by agencies are currently in process.
The Adoption Authority of Ireland was established in November 2010. The Authority is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption Act, 2010. Further information on the Authority and the accreditation process is available at www.aai.gov.ie
ENDS
Adoption Authority Reports Back on Progress in Vietnam
Thursday, 19th May 2011
The Adoption Authority of Ireland met yesterday with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., following its visit to Vietnam last week. The Authority presented a report of its findings.
The Authority advised the Minister of significant improvements that have
occurred since November 2008. The Chairman, Geoffrey Shannon, said "It is
clear from our discussions on-the-ground that the Vietnamese Government
has introduced a significant programme of reform, including new laws on
adoption in line with the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption; as
well as reforms to develop its wider child protection system."
The Authority also advised that, according to information available to it,
the earliest date for the entry into force of the Convention in Vietnam is
likely to be the 1st of October 2011.
The Minister advised the Authority that she will consider its report.
The Chairman said "I expect to meet the Minister again in two to three
weeks for further discussions on the matter."
The Authority reiterated that the adoption of children from any country
remains the prerogative of each sovereign state.
ENDS
Adoption Authority Announces Chief Executive Officer Appointment
Saturday, 7th May 2011
The Adoption Authority is very pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Canavan as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Authority. Ms Canavan has taken up the statutory appointment this month as a result of an open public competition for the new position which was conducted by the Public Appointments Service.
Ms Canavan comes to the Adoption Authority with the notable benefit of many years of previous experience working in senior positions within the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Health and Children. Her assignments there included extensive experience at senior level in the areas of adoption policy and adoption legislation. In particular, Ms. Canavan played a major role within the OMCYA in the drafting, development and enactment of the Adoption Act 2010.
The Chairman of the Authority, Mr. Geoffrey Shannon said “This appointment has been awaited and the appointment of Ms. Canavan is especially welcome. Ms. Canavan has a strong reputation in the adoption field with the former Adoption Board, the Department and a wide range of stakeholders both here and abroad. The Authority members are looking forward to supporting Ms. Canavan in her leadership role in building the Authority’s capacity to deliver a world class adoption service for Ireland in which the best interests of children are the first and paramount consideration.”
The Authority was established in November 2010. Work to date has included the accreditation of agencies – 6 agencies have been accredited to date. Agencies can register for a range of activities. Currently, 1 agency has been registered for the purposes of providing information, advise and counselling to prospective adoptive parents; 1 Agency for the purposes of providing mediation services; 1 agency for the purposes of assessment of prospective adopters; 2 agencies for the purposes of information and tracing; and 1 agency for the purposes of placement of children for adoption and information and tracing.
A number of other applications by agencies are currently in process.
The Authority has also been active in meeting with other jurisdictions to build relationships in those countries. The Authority has already travelled to a number of jurisdictions in order to make contact with the Central Authorities; advise of our processes and procedures, assess the need for additional administrative arrangements or agreements; and to glean as much information as possible of relevance to prospective adopters from those countries. The Chairman said “building strong relationships with other Central Authorities will be key to ensuring the achievement of standards relating to the adoption process”. The visits also provide opportunities to streamline processes on both sides and get up to date information for prospective adopters on developments in these countries.
The Authority has confirmed that it is visiting Vietnam this week (week beginning 9th May) at the request of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald. The purpose of the visit is to gather information. The Chairman said “Ireland has a recent tradition of adoption from Vietnam and has enjoyed good relationships with that country. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a sovereign state and will make its own decisions on the ratification and implementation of the Hague Convention. Our purpose in travelling is to gain information which will support our understanding of the progress made and the processes now envisaged. It will also be an opportunity to seek information on the manner in which Vietnam proposes to implement the Convention, including inter alia, which countries it proposes to work with in the future.”
The Authority has indicated that it will be reporting its findings to the Minister for Children in due course. The Authority has also advised that any new information regarding Vietnam will be posted on the Authority’s website on www.aai.gov.ie as soon as it is available.
ENDS
Press contact:
Conor Kerlin
Adoption Authority of Ireland (01)2309330
NOTICE – ADOPTING FROM A HAGUE CONVENTION STATE-29th April 2011
Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP’s) proposing to adopt from a Hague Convention State (e.g. Mexico, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Florida) are reminded that in order to qualify for an entry in the Register of Intercountry Adoptions an adoption must be carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Hague Convention (i.e.)
- - The HSE assessment report must be transmitted to the Central Authority of the State of Origin by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) or by a body accredited to do so by the AAI (Article 15);
- - The Child Study Report (‘the referral’) must be sent to the AAI (or a body accredited by the AAI) by the Central Authority of the State of Origin (or a body accredited to do so by the Central Authority in the State of Origin) for onward transmission to the applicants (Article 16);
- - The AAI must approve the placement of the child to proceed (Article 17); and
- - The Central Authority in the State of Origin (or a body accredited to do so) must issue a certificate confirming that the adoption has been effected in accordance with the Hague Convention (Article 23).
Failure to comply with the above may result in an application for an entry in the Register of Intercountry Adoptions being declined.
Notice of 13 October 2010 below also refers.
NOTICE – ENGLAND – 13th April 2011
A delegation from the AAI met with the English Central Authority in London recently. The primary purpose of the meeting was to address a small number of cases of children in respect of whom adoption orders have been sought and who have been brought from England in anticipation that these orders will be granted.
The English Central Authority has indicated that it is positively disposed to seeking a solution with regard to these specific cases, as this can now be facilitated through transition provisions, following Ireland’s ratification of the Hague Convention. It is unusual for children who are UK citizens to be the subject of Intercountry adoptions – the UK does maintain an ICA register, as required by the Convention, but there are currently no children on that register and it is anticipated that this will remain the case – however, occasional family cases have arisen in the past and the AAI is pleased to note that the Central Authority of England is supportive of its efforts to bring such cases to a successful conclusion.
NOTICE- THAILAND - 13th April 2011
A delegation from the Thai Central Authority, the Child Adoption Centre, met with the AAI on 4/4/2011. The delegation detailed the adoption process in Thailand under Hague.
Most domestic adoptions in Thailand are in-family relative adoptions and there are also domestic adoptions of non-relative children, most of whom have been relinquished or abandoned to baby homes. Children who are not accepted by Thai couples for adoption are placed on an Intercountry adoption register. The process required to ensure the child’s eligibility for adoption prior to placement on the ICA register is done by District Offices and is comprehensive, including address checks, birth certificate, checks done through the police, relatives and blood tests if necessary. Due to the length of this process, the children placed on the ICA register are at least over one year old and mostly aged over two years. Some children can have minor health problems.
The birth mother is aware when signing the consent forms that her child may go to another country following adoption. She receives counselling in relation to the adoption process and can withdraw the consent up to the time of the adoption, although in practice this rarely happens. The matching process includes a monthly meeting where representatives of baby homes meet with the Central Authority. Children are matched with families using the child’s availability and needs for adoption as the primary criteria.
At present, Irish applicants who may seek to adopt from Thailand face a wait of 30 to 36 months, as there is currently a ‘nil’ quota for Ireland on the Thai ICA register. Prospective applicants should note that Thai law requires that they undergo a parenting course as part of their preparation and that, similar to the requirements for adoption from the Philippines, Thailand is considering the inclusion of a requirement to undergo psychological assessment as part of the adoption application process. Prospective applicants might also note that there is no agency currently accredited to facilitate adoption arrangements between Thailand and Ireland.
NOTICE – SOUTH AFRICA – 13th April 2011
The Adoption Authority of Ireland wishes to advise that both the Authority and the Irish Embassy in Pretoria are continuing in their efforts to establish from the South African Central Authority whether it will accept applications for intercountry adoptions from Ireland in 2011. We have, as yet, received no indication from the Central Authority of their intentions and will advise as soon as we receive any information.
NOTICE – FLORIDA – 13th April 2011
Intercountry adoption from the State of Florida, USA, is under active consideration by the AAI and is the subject of ongoing engagement with the US Central Authority. The outcome of these considerations will be posted on the website once a definitive conclusion has been reached.
NOTICE - PAYMENTS IN INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION - 11th April 2011
The Adoption Authority of Ireland wishes to inform all adoptive parents who have undertaken an intercountry adoption that, with immediate effect, the Authority will, as a standard administrative procedure for the registration of the foreign adoption, afford particular attention to all payments made either to any entities or to any persons in connection with the administration and finalisation of the foreign adoption.
The Authority will reserve the right to seek evidence, by way of documentary proof, of the amounts of all such payments. This may require the production by adopters of original invoices for payments and original receipts of payments made.
In cases where it becomes apparent to the Authority that unreasonable levels of costs have been incurred, and/or where it appears that undocumented ‘cash’ transactions may have taken place, the Authority must reserve its express statutory rights to refuse to grant an entry into the statutory ‘Register of Intercountry Adoptions’ in respect of the adoption concerned.
NOTICE - BULGARIA – 1ST APRIL 2011
Representatives of the Adoption Authority of Ireland met with the Bulgarian Central Authority in the Bulgarian capital Sofia on 24th March 2011. The Bulgarian Central Authority (known as the ‘Bulgarian Adoption Council’) is a part of the Ministry of Justice. Bulgaria ratified the Hague Convention in 2003. The national population of Bulgaria is approximately 7 million. There are about 750 domestic adoptions annually, many of these being family/relative adoptions. There are also some 250 or so intercountry adoptions effected under the Hague Convention. Children of marriage may under certain defined circumstances be eligible for adoption in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Adoption Council operates within the Ministry of Justice and holds two adoption registers – the first is essentially a comprehensive national register of all children available for adoption. When a child has not secured an adoption following referrals to three Bulgarian families, he/she may then be placed on a separate register for a potential intercountry adoption. Children are placed on the national adoption register about six months after first contact with the municipal social services who must satisfy themselves that the mother/parents are unable to care for the child. Consents can only be taken at least four weeks after the birth. Birth parents’ consents can be withdrawn by them at any time up to the making of the adoption order. The age profile of those children available for intercountry adoption is broadly similar to that in most other Hague Convention ‘countries of origin’. None of the children are under one year old. Generally, they are over 3 years old and mostly aged around about 5 years. However, a considerable number of children are older and in the range up to 8 years and 11 years old. These children may have special needs in terms of their age, education, institutionalisation, ethnicity and some quite significant health issues. There is an apparent disparity between the profile of these Bulgarian children and the traditional expectations of Irish applicants. The Bulgarian authorities require home assessment reports with in-depth analysis of the prospective parents’ capacities in relation to children with special needs. Prospective adoptive parents, therefore, will need to view the profiles of the available children and assess their expectations in a realistic manner. In line with best practice and the terms of the Hague Convention, the Bulgarian authorities approve matches initially through the Bulgarian Adoption Council in order to ensure that all matches are in the children’s best interests. This also serves to eliminate the practice of prospective adopters meeting children prior to matching. The Bulgarian Central Authority require that prospective adoptive parents inform them officially each year, by written commitment, as to whether they wish to remain on the waiting list, or alternatively if they no longer wish to be on the Bulgarian waiting list i.e. the applicants may have decided to move to another country or may have already adopted a child in a different country. This requirement prevents the situation arising where a child is being matched with applicants who are now no longer in a position to adopt the child.
NOTICE - ETHIOPIA – 25th March 2011
Following further discussions between the Ethiopian and Irish authorities, adoptions from Ethiopia can continue (for holders of a declaration prior to 1st November 2010) subject to dossiers and procedures being in order.
Irish adoptions from Ethiopia are classified by the Ethiopian authorities as private adoptions and as such there is no role in the process for facilitators to secure referrals and to process adoptions. Irish Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP’s) should therefore not pay for the services of such facilitators.
Furthermore, PAP’s are reminded that humanitarian aid or donations should not be associated with individual adoptions. In this regard, PAP’s should familiarise themselves with the Hague Convention.
In cases where it becomes apparent to the Authority that unreasonable levels of costs have been incurred, and/or where it appears that undocumented ‘cash’ transactions may have taken place, the Authority must reserve its express statutory rights to refuse to grant an entry into the statutory ‘Register of Intercountry Adoptions’ in respect of the adoption concerned.
NOTICE – HUMANITARIAN AID / DONATIONS in ICA – 14th March 2011
The AAI has noticed that in a number of recent applications for an entry in the Register of Intercountry Adoptions substantial amounts of money (described as ‘Humanitarian Aid’ or ‘Donation’) have been handed over to persons abroad in respect of an individual adoption.
PAP’s are reminded that humanitarian aid or donations should not be associated with individual children being adopted.
PAP’s should familiarise themselves with the Hague Convention thus -
Article 8 — No improper financial or other gain in adoption.
Article 32 — No improper financial or other gain in intercountry adoption.
NOTICE - BULGARIA - 11th March 2011
The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) has received a number of applications from Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPS) wishing to adopt from Bulgaria.The Authority has a responsibility under the terms of the Hague Convention to transmit the applicants' dossiers to Bulgaria and in turn to receive and to decide on the suitability of any referral (a child referred to the applicants) offered by the sending country. This process requires agreement and understanding by the two Convention countries involved (Bulgaria & Ireland) on the procedures required for the orderly completion of the Hague requirements.To this end the AAI has sought a meeting with the Bulgarian adoption authorities and will be sending a delegation to Bulgaria very shortly to discuss the issues involved.
The AAI is aware that applicants are anxious to have their applications registered in Bulgaria but would ask that applicants bear in mind that in order to have any adoptions recognised by the Authority, then they must comply with the Hague Convention. The AAI is therefore endeavouring to ensure that the process is clear, agreed and robust and expect to have the arrangements finalised shortly.
In the meantime, the AAI wish to advise those applicants wishing to adopt from Bulgaria that all dossiers for transmission to Bulgaria must be returned to the AAI and these will be forwarded as soon as the above process is complete.
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 9th March 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: Cúnamh
Address: CPRSI House, 30 South Anne Street, Dublin 2
Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4 (a,c,d,j,k) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 9th March 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: St. Attracta’s Adoption Society
Address: St. Marys, Sligo
Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4(k) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE - ETHIOPIA - 1st March 2011
The AAI is in receipt of information from the Ethiopian Ministry of Women's,Children's and Youth Affairs that it has informed the President of the Federal First Instance Court that, with effect from March 10, 2011 it will be in a position to provide opinions on a maximum of five adoption files per day. (Heretofore it was processing fifty adoption files per day). This, the MWCYA states, is due to 'prioritization of other issues and to ensure the quality of each case.'
The AAI is currently aware of 12 PAP's currently proposing to adopt in Ethiopia from Ireland. See NOTICES below.
NOTICE – ETHIOPIA - 28th February 2011
Further to the Notice of 25th February 2011.
Persons proposing to adopt from Ethiopia who have been allocated a Court date should contact the Adoption Authority by email as soon as possible.
Please forward the following details only to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Name, AAI File ref. number, Court Date, Court case no.
NOTICE – ETHIOPIA- 25th February 2011
The AAI has been informed by the Irish embassy in Addis Ababa that the Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs (MWCYA) is currently undertaking a review of adoptions. The Ministry has undertaken visits to orphanages in four regions and will continue next month with visits to the remaining regions.
Once the review has been completed, a set of guidelines will be finalised by the Ethiopian authorities. These guidelines will address the issue of private/independent adoptions. (Irish adoptions are categorised as private adoptions in that the prospective adoptive parents deal directly with the children’s home and do not go through an accredited agency). The Ministry has advised that there shall be a ‘pause’ in private adoptions until the revised guidelines are in place.
Persons who already hold a valid Declaration of Eligibility & Suitability to adopt, as of 1 November 2010, and who are proposing to adopt in Ethiopia, are reminded that under Section 63 of the Adoption Act 2010 they may only proceed to adopt in a non-Hague Convention State which ‘in the opinion of the Authority, applied standards regarding the adoption concerned that accord with those of the Hague Convention’
The AAI must reserve the right to refuse recognition to, and entry into the Register of Intercountry Adoptions of, any intercountry adoption effected in a non-Hague Convention State which does not accord with the standards of the Convention.
The AAI welcomes the decision of the MWCYA to review its adoption procedures. The Authority is committed to working with the Ministry to ensure that any adoptions effected in Ethiopia comply with Ethiopian law and accord with the standards of the Hague Convention.
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 23rd February 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: St. Patrick's Guild
Address: 203 Merrion Road, Blackrock, Dublin 4
Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4(k) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY - 23rd February 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: PACT
Address: 18D Nutgrove Office Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4(e,f,g) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE – DELEGATION TRAVELLING TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – 11th February 2011
A delegation from the AAI will travel to the U.S.A. on 12 February 2011. While there, the delegation will meet with representatives of the State Department (the Central Authority for the USA under the Hague Convention), an expert on child law and personnel from two Adoption Agencies. Topics to discuss will include the principle of subsidiarity (whereby intercountry adoption is the third option after family adoption and in-State adoption), the accreditation process, and the process for handling outgoing adoption cases under the Hague Adoption Convention
NOTICE - PAYMENTS IN INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION - 10th February 2011
The Adoption Authority of Ireland wishes to inform all prospective adoptive parents undertaking an intercountry adoption that, with effect from 1st February 2011, the Authority will, as a standard administrative procedure for the subsequent registration of the foreign adoption, afford particular attention to all payments made either to any entities or to any persons in connection with the administration and finalisation of the foreign adoption.
The Authority will reserve the right to seek evidence, by way of documentary proof, of the amounts of all such payments. This may require the production by adopters of original invoices for payments and original receipts of payments made.
In cases where it becomes apparent to the Authority that unreasonable levels of costs have been incurred, and/or where it appears that undocumented ‘cash’ transactions may have taken place, the Authority must reserve its express statutory rights to refuse to grant an entry into the statutory ‘Register of Intercountry Adoptions’ in respect of the adoption concerned.
See also NOTICE below of 21st January 2011
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY 9th February 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: Arc Adoption Limited
Activity for which registered: The activities outlined in Section 4 (a,b,c,d) of the Adoption Act 2010.
NOTICE - MEETINGS OF THE AUTHORITY - 28th January 2011
Commencing on 8th February 2011, the Authority will meet fortnightly on a Tuesday, i.e. February 8th, 22nd, March 8th, 22nd, April 5th, 19th etc. There will be no meetings in August.
The agenda for the meeting will be sent to Authority members on the previous Wednesday afternoon. Late items for the agenda will not be considered.
Members of the Authority cannot enter into individual correspondence. Correspondence for the Authority can be addressed to the Registrar/Secretary for onward transmission to the appropriate unit - Domestic, Intercountry or Information & Tracing.
NOTICE - REGISTRATION OF AN ACCREDITED BODY- 27th January 2011
The Adoption Authority has made the following entry in the Register of Accredited Bodies established and maintained by the Authority pursuant to Section 126 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Name of Body: International Adoption Association (Ireland)
Activity for which registered: Providing information, advice and counselling concerning adoption to any prospective adopters (Section 4(g) of the Adoption Act 2010 refers).
NOTICE - MAKING OF MONETARY PAYMENTS WITHIN THE INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION PROCESS - 21st January 2011
The Adoption Authority of Ireland wishes to draw the attention of all prospective adoptive parents (PAP's) undertaking an intercountry adoption into Ireland from a foreign jurisdiction to the fact that the very greatest care must be exercised at all times as regards the matter of any payments which are made in relation to any part of the adoption process.
There should be no payments made to any person or body which remain undocumented by way of absence of formal documented written receipt.
NOTICE - GUIDELINES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF SOLE APPLICANTS (INTERIM)- 20th January 2011
NOTICE- LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION
Following a number of requests, the Adoption Authority has agreed to issue a ‘Letter of Introduction’ (LOI) to any applicant proposing to adopt from a non-Hague country. Requests for LOI’s should be addressed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and should include the applicants name,address and file reference no (if known). In future, this generic letter will issue automatically with all Section 40 and all Section 63 Declarations.
ADOPTION LAW IN IRELAND LETTER (for Russia)
Following a number of requests, the Adoption Authority has agreed to issue a letter which outlines the consequences of adoption in Ireland or the recognition of intercountry adoption by Ireland to any applicant proposing to adopt from the Russian Federation. Requests for these letters should be addressed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and should include the applicants name, address and file reference no(if known) .
SECTION 63 DECLARATIONS (transition provision)
Section 63 (2) of the Adoption Act 2010 provides that:
‘If, immediately before the establishment day, a foreign adoption described in the Adoption Act 1991 is not yet effected but is still in process as provided for under that Act –
(a) if the persons who applied under the Adoption Act 1991 had been issued with a declaration of eligibility and suitability before the establishment day, the adoption may proceed under this Act as if –
(i) it were commenced under this Act and the date of the issue of the declaration were that day,
(ii) the persons had applied under section 37 of this Act, and
(iii) section 40 (1) (b) of this Act read “in another contracting state or a state that, in the opinion of the Authority, applied standards regarding the adoption concerned that accord with those in the Hague Convention”,
and
(b) in any other case,
the adoption may proceed under this Act as if it were commenced under this Act.’
1. To facilitate intercountry adoptions specified in the above section, the Adoption Authority of Ireland requests persons who have been issued with a declaration of eligibility and suitability before the establishment day, 1 November 2010, to return the original declaration to the AAI so that a new Declaration bearing the date of the establishment day, 1 November 2010 may be issued to them.
2. Persons who have been issued with such declarations before the establishment day and who have had to submit them to a foreign authority or state are asked to submit an affidavit in the form set out below so that a new Declaration bearing the date of the establishment day, 1 November 2010 may be issued to them. Click Here
3. If the Adoption Board transmitted your pack to the country of origin (e.g. China), simply request the Declaration by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
NOTICE- ACCREDITED BODIES- 13th January 2011
The Authority is currently in the process of examining a number of applications from organisation wishing to work in the field of adoption both in Ireland and abroad.
Persons involving themselves in making arrangements for adoption who are not accredited by the Adoption Authority may be in breach of the Adoption Act 2010 and may be committing an offence under that Act.
DOMESTIC ADOPTION
Following confirmation from a number of HSE Regional Adoption Services that they are ready to receive files from the AAI, the process of transferring files to those areas will commence next week (Monday 17 January 2011). Applicants who have not yet responded to our letter requesting written permission for the transfer of their file are reminded to do so as a matter of urgency. Files will be transferred on a phased basis, and applicants will be notified when their file is transferred and provided with contact details for the appropriate HSE office to which their file has been sent.
Media Events
Launch of the Adoption Authority of Ireland
Launch of the Adoption Authority of Ireland and introduction of the new Authority members by Minister Barry Andrews, T.D., 11am, Monday, 1st November, 2010.
Further information from:
Office of the Minister for Children
Tel: 01 6354000
Press Office, Department of Health and Children
Tel: 01 6353036
Press Releases
Minister For Children And Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews, T.D., Welcomes Enactment of the Adoption Act 2010 and Appointment of Adoption Authority of Ireland - 1st November 2010
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews, T.D., today welcomed the launch of the Adoption Authority and the entering into law of the Adoption Act 2010. The commencment of the Act coincides with Irish ratification and membership of Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption.
Expressions of Interest - Accredited Bodies providing adoption services in Ireland
| File | Description | File size |
|---|---|---|
 Advert.pdf | Expressions of interest from bodies who wish to provide adoption services. | 89 Kb |