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Minister Fitzgerald to introduce the Adoption (Amendment Bill) 2013 in Dáil Éireann
Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister of Children & Youth Affairs, will tomorrow
(Thursday 19th December) introduce the Adoption (Amendment Bill) 2013 in
Dáil Éireann.
Earlier this week Minister Fitzgerald sought and received Government
approval for the Bill.
The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Adoption Act to allow a small
number of prospective adopters affected by recent changes in Russian
legislation further time to complete their adoptions.
The Bill proposes to extend the period of declarations of eligibility and
suitability which apply to the Russian Federation for one year to 31
October 2014 for those prospective adoptive parents who held such
declarations on 31 October 2013.
The Minister has received very strong requests from across the House to
bring forward such a proposal.
The Bill was brought forward after extensive diplomatic efforts were
undertaken to see if a solution could be arrived at in Russia.
Ends…/
Explanatory Background:
The Adoption Authority informed the Department of Children and Youth
Affairs that having reviewed its records it believes that 23 Prospective
Adoptive Parents held Declarations of Eligibility and Suitability valid for
adoption from Russia on 31 October 2013.