Agreements allowing Irish couples to adopt Filipino children will be formalised this week under a new arrangement between the countries.
The Mister for Children, Ms Mary Hanafin, has travelled to the Philippines to meet adoption officials there ahead of signing the agreement on Wednesday.
"Inter-country adoption in the Philippines is only allowed after all efforts have been made at both local and national level to find the child a home with a Filipino couple," said Minister Hanafin.
She added that she was looking forward to a high level of co-operation between the Irish Adoption Board and the Inter-Country Adoption Board of the Philippines.