THERE SHOULD be faster assessment of prospective adoptive parents and provision made for information and tracing, according to Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald. She stressed the need for rigorous standards and increased scrutiny of all adoption-related issues.
The Minister was speaking at the launch of Arc Adoption, the first accredited mediation agency.
The Adoption Act, which came into force last year, provided for the accreditation of agencies by a newly created Adoption Authority, which would assist and support adoptive parents.
The Act also ratified the Hague Convention on intercountry adoption.
Ms Fitzgerald acknowledged the long waiting time some parents have had to endure and pledged to reduce waiting times for assessments. She also stressed the importance of rigorous regulation of all bodies associated with the adoption process.
“As a Hague member, we join a group of countries which aim to promote high standards and good practice in adoptions of children between countries,” Ms Fitzgerald said. “There will always be risks associated with adoption. However, we are doing our best to improve the protections surrounding Hague adoptions and reduce that risk.”
She said Arc would shortly start its first adoption programme in Bulgaria. It also hoped to include a special needs programme in China and establish a post-adoption service.
Stressing the importance of putting the child first, she urged all those involved in adoption to support the referendum on children’s rights when it is held.
Chairman of the Adoption Authority Geoffrey Shannon said the Hague system was one of co-operation between countries, based on two principles: the best interests of the child and consent to the adoption.
It was not about casting aspersions on the child protection systems of other countries, but about working with them to improve them.
He said Ireland’s own system needed improvement.