Ivana Bacik
Ceist:1034. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the current Government policy in respect of domestic adoption and intercountry adoption. [12545/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 17 February 2026
Ceisteanna (1034)
Freagraí scríofa
Adoption policy in Ireland is framed by the provisions of the Adoption Act 2010 as amended and by the 1993 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption which has the force of law in the State.
Under the 2010 Act, the Adoption Authority of Ireland is the only body that can grant or refuse adoption orders in Ireland. It is also the only body that can grant the declarations of eligibility and suitability that are required by prospective parents before they can adopt a child. In line with the 1993 Hague Convention, the Authority is also the ‘Central Authority’ for intercountry adoption and is responsible for the registration of foreign adoptions under Irish law.
As section 19 of the 2010 Act makes clear, the best interests of the child are the paramount consideration in any decisions about adoption in Ireland. Adoption is a service for children.
Most domestic adoptions in Ireland involve the recognition of already existing relationships. Of the 101 domestic adoption orders made in 2025, 50 involved a child’s being adopted by a stepparent and 38 involved a child's being adopted by their foster parent(s). There were only 5 infant adoptions and 7 adoptions by members of a child’s extended family. (There was 1 ‘foreign to domestic adoption’, where a child, born abroad, was subsequently adopted in Ireland.)
Ireland only engages in intercountry adoption with other signatories to the 1993 Hague Convention. The purpose of the Convention is to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights. It seeks to protect children and their families from the risks of illegal, irregular, premature or ill-prepared adoptions abroad and to prevent the abduction, sale or trafficking of children.
There were 15 intercountry adoptions completed in 2025, reflecting a continued trend of decreasing numbers of intercountry adoptions worldwide. In recent years, a number of countries have ceased, suspended or restricted the practice of intercountry adoptions or have begun the process to do so. The Department is closely monitoring and reviewing developments in both sending and receiving countries, in terms of emerging trends and international best practice. As with adoption generally, the best interests of the child must be the overriding consideration in intercountry adoptions.
The Department is currently engaged in a two-year project (2024-2026) to develop an evidence-based, best practice framework and a roadmap for reform of domestic adoption in Ireland. The project is supported by UNICEF in collaboration with the European Commission’s Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM) and is funded by the European Commission under the Technical Support Instrument. The project is expected to be completed in Quarter 4 2026 and will inform future policy development.