THERE WON’T BE an upper age limit placed on intercountry adoption – because it would be discriminatory, the Children’s Minister has said.

Minister Frances Fitzgerald was responding to a recommendation from the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), where they asked for the introduction of an upper age limit of 42 years for prospective adoptive parents seeking an intercountry adoption.

Equality

The Minister said she will not be accepting the recommendation on grounds of equality, “since it would preclude many prospective Irish parents seeking an intercountry adoption in compliance with the Hague Convention”.

The Minister said that the best interests of the child and proper consent are at the centre of Ireland’s adoption policy.

But an age limit of 42 years would discriminate against many prospective parents who would otherwise provide a child with a loving home in compliance with Hague Convention standards.

The minister noted that the AAI’s Annual Report 2012 shows that the overwhelming majority (73.3 per cent) of intercountry adopters are aged between 40-51 years.

There is currently no upper age restriction for couples pursuing intercountry adoption.

“All the studies show us that demographic patterns have changed in Ireland and that people are living longer and healthier lives,” said Fitzgerald. “For a variety of personal, educational, work or cultural reasons, the average age of childbirth has increased for Irish women. I will not be accepting a recommendation that discriminates against prospective parents on the basis that they are over the age of 42 years.”

The AAI Annual Report 2012 cites the length of time prospective adopters are on waiting lists in different countries before referrals as among the reasons for introducing an upper limit of 42 years.

But while the Minister said she accepts that many prospective adopters are on waiting lists, she believes “that this makes it all the more important not to impose additional penalties on prospective parents seeking to give children who are in state institutions a permanent and loving home.”

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