The Minister of State for Children is to examine measures to prohibit unregistered adoption agencies from using the Internet to advertise public meetings in Ireland.
One agency registered in the United States but not in Ireland held meetings for prospective adoptive parents of Russian children in Dublin at the weekend.
The Frank Adoption Centre publicised the meetings on its website. The Minister, Ms Mary Hanafin, told the Seanad last week that unregistered bodies were prohibited from advertising under the Adoption Act 1952, and from receiving payment in consideration of the adoption of a child.
Last night she said she would examine whether unregistered groups could be prohibited from organising meetings here by advertising them on the Internet.
The Adopted People's Association last night condemned the failure of the Government to prevent unregistered foreign adoption agencies from offering children for adoption by Irish couples.
A fee schedule circulated by the Frank Adoption Centre shows that the cost of adopting one child from Russia could be from $12,800 to $19,800.
The Adopted People's Association disputed the fees charged by the Frank Adoption Centre. "Adoption within and from Russia is administered by the Russian Ministry of Education and involves only minor administrative costs," said its chairman, Mr Anton Sweeney.
The importance of Ireland to the Frank Adoption Centre (previously the Victoria Adoption Centre) is evident from the title of its website, which reads: "Frank Adoption Centre: International Adoptions in the US and Ireland".
By Irish standards, its style is quite brash. A banner on its front page proclaims: "Please Note: For families interested in children with Asian features, we have many children available that are in good health."
Mr Francis McGeough, chairman of the International Adoption Association (formerly the Irish Foreign Adoption Group) last night called on the Minister to make it possible for reputable agencies to become registered in this country for the purpose of arranging foreign adoptions.
In an adjournment debate in the Seanad last week, Senator Mary Henry called for additional finance to be given to Irish adoption agencies to help them facilitate inter-country adoptions. "No one wants to see the exploitation of people who are hopeful adoptive parents or, worse still, the exploitation of children from abroad," she said. Ms Hanafin said last night that Russia had not signed the Hague Convention. She intended to seek out established adoption agencies in Russia with whom the Irish authorities could work.
Weblinks:
Senate debate: http://www.irlgov.ie/oireachtas/
Adopted People's Association: http://www.connect.ie/apa/