A MOVE to have adoptions by Irish couples of children from countries such as Paraguay and Peru legally recognised here was rejected by the Government.

At the committee stage of the Adoption (No 2) Bill in the Dail, Fianna Fail called for an amendment which would allow recognition of such adoptions.

Moving the amendment, Dr Michael Woods said the Bill at present confined recognition to foreign adoptions which corresponded in an exact way to Irish adoption law.

This fell far short of responding to the generosity of the many Irish couples who adopted in countries like France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Paraguay and Peru. These "ordinary" adoptions were not similar to Irish adoptions, he said. Dr Woods referred to the recent Supreme Court judgment which gave recognition here to Chinese adopt ions.

These adopted children would not be recognised by the Government even though they were legally adopted in their own country and living here. They were consequently prevented from having an Irish passport, from inheriting and could be disadvantaged in applying for schooling and medical services.

The issue of foreign adopt ions would become increasingly important in the future. Eastern Health Board figures revealed that only seven Irish born babies were adopted last year, while the number of applications for foreign adoptions rose to 74. There must be full recognition as if they were Irish adopt ions.

The Minister of State for Health, Mr Austin Currie, who has special responsibility for childcare, said that if he could find a way of resolving this particular difficulty, he would. He had met parents of Paraguayan children and he told them he had complete sympathy.

However, he could not ignore the legal problems which existed. He had not heard any suggestions, including in the amendment, as to how they could be overcome. The child was their major concern but the legal difficulties were real and substantial.