THE closure of Belarus to Irish adoptive parents because of delays by the authorities here in submitting post-adoption reports on children already in the State was the subject of talks in London yesterday. Later the Minister for Children, Mr Lenihan, said he was hopeful the meeting "has been a positive step towards resolving these difficulties".
Since 1999, more than 40 children from Belarus have been adopted here under an arrangement between the Adoption Board and the Belarussian authorities. Belarus requires a post-adoption report every six months for three years after each adoption. These reports are prepared by social workers.
Because a number of these reports had not been done, Belarus recently suspended adoptions to Ireland. Mr Lenihan said there was also a delay in co-ordinating arrangements in Belarus to assist Irish couples.
The Minister informed Ms Olga Karaban, director of the National Adoption Centre in Belarus, that the Adoption Board here had introduced a new procedure for monitoring the timely preparation and transmission of post-placement reports to Belarus.
"I am pleased to learn from the Adoption Board that all outstanding post-placement reports have now been completed and are en route to Belarus," Mr Lenihan said. He was "concerned about the distress and difficulties that the suspension is causing Irish applicants".
Mr Cathal Guiomard, of the International Adoption Association which represents Irish adoptive parents, said he would welcome a resumption of adoptions from Belarus as many Irish people were interested in adopting Belarussian children.