‘No logic’ to foreign adoption development aid

Ireland’s foreign adoption system that permits so-called ‘development aid’ be paid by prospective parents to authorities in a child’s country of origin was slated yesterday by an international consultant on child protection policy who contrasted that approach with Swedish law that absolutely prohibits it.

“I see no logic, based on the rights of a child, for requiring development aid in exchange for the right to adopt a child,” Nigel Cantwell yesterday told delegates to an international conference on adoption held at University College Cork.

“It does not stand up on any rights-based logic and it is even worse when the adoptive parents are required to provide that aid,” he said.