UNITED KINGDOM
Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are signatories to the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.
Article 2 of the Hague Convention states that the Convention shall apply where a child habitually resident in one Contracting State (e.g. the UK) has been, is being, or is to be moved to another Contracting State (e.g. Ireland) either after his or her adoption in the State of origin by spouses or a person habitually resident in the receiving State, or for the purposes of such an adoption in the receiving State or in the State of origin. The Convention covers only adoptions which create a permanent parent-child relationship.
The United Kingdom has four National Central Authorities, one each for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The National Central Authority of the country of origin* matches the child with prospective adoptive parent(s) and sends an Article 16 Child Study report to the Adoption Authority of Ireland* for consideration.
The designated Central Authority to which any communication may be addressed for transmission to the appropriate Central Authority is-
- The Department for Children, Schools and Families, London, England
The UK Department for Children, Schools and Families has advised the Adoption Authority of Ireland that it maintains a list of children available for inter country adoption. There are no children currently on that list.
Exceptions can be made where the child has relations in Ireland.
The number of children adopted into Ireland from the UK in recent years is as follows –
| YEAR | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
| NUMBER OF CHILDREN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
WARNING
Prospective adoptive parents should satisfy themselves that any persons acting on their behalf are duly authorised by the appropriate National Central Authority to carry out the functions for which they are engaged.
Prospective adoptive parents are advised to seek independent legal advice prior to effecting an adoption.
Prospective adoptive parents should not take custody of a child or accept a placement prior to the Adoption Authority of Ireland issuing an Article 17 Placement Agreement Notice.
When a child enters the State for the first time after his or her adoption, the adopters must notify Tusla - The Child and Family Agency and the Adoption Authority of Ireland of the child’s entry as soon as practicable and, in any event, not later than three (3) months after the date of entry. Failure to so notify is a criminal offence.
Not later than three (3) months after the date when a child first enters the State after his or her intercountry adoption in another state, the adopters must apply to the Adoption Authority of Ireland to have the particulars of the adoption entered into the Register of Intercountry Adoptions (RICA). Failure to do so is a criminal offence. Applications for an entry in the RICA must be accompanied by an Article 23 certificate issued by a National Central Authority or by an Accredited Body duly authorised to do so by a National Central Authority.
Any adoptions effected outside these parameters will not be recognised by the AAI.
Please click here for country specific information table for Prospective Adoptive Parents
