Accreditation of Agencies Critical Foundation for Safe and Transparent Adoption Process

Monday, 30^th 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

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