The Adoption Board has received numerous offers from people seeking to adopt children orphaned as a result of the Asian tsunami disaster, it has emerged.
However, the board has told those interested that they must following normal adoption procedures, which can take between one and four years.
"We've had a large number of phone calls inquiring about adopting children in the area. We have simply pointed out that there are procedures and processes in place that must be followed," said Mr Kiernan Gildea, the Adoption Board's registrar.
The board has advised people to follow normal procedures by first contacting their health board.
Adoption Ireland, which represents adopted people, yesterday supported the board's stance and said those making such inquiries were misguided.
"While everyone has been struck and affected by the images of disaster and loss of life displayed on our TV screens and newspapers, we are firmly of the opinion that offers to adopt children in the immediate aftermath of the disaster are misguided and inappropriate," the group said in a statement.
It said a hurried response to the disaster in the form of adoptions would inevitably result in exploitation, such as kidnapping for the purposes of adoption.
Sri Lanka and India have already put in place a temporary ban on foreign adoptions in order to prevent possible exploitation. Indonesia has also closed its borders to the movement of children.
Principles for the adoption of children from abroad are set out in the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children in Inter-country Adoption, which the State is due to ratify shortly.
A fundamental principle is that children should only be available for adoption internationally when efforts to place them within their own family, community, society or country have failed.
Irish people adopt up to 500 children from abroad each year, while around 100 adoptions take place within the State. Russia and Vietnam account for most overseas adoptions.
In the last 13 years 55 children have been adopted from Thailand, and one from Sri Lanka. There have been no adoptions from Indonesia in recent years, according to the board.
