Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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362. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to review the Irish interpretation of the Hague Convention, given that other European signatories to it are still able to adopt from countries such as Vietnam and Ethiopia. [42342/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Adoption Act, 2010, provides for adoptions from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention on adoption and from countries where there is a bilateral agreement in place. During the drafting of the Act a considered and detailed transitional process to deal with the change from previous legislation to the new Act was put in place. Adoptions are ongoing from Vietnam, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Bulgaria and other countries that have ratified the Hague Convention.

Ethiopia is not a signatory to the Convention therefore a bilateral agreement between the Irish and Ethiopian authorities is required before inter country adoptions can take place.