Adoption laws - Proposals welcomed

IN a week dominated by child protection issues it is good to see that the new Adoption Bill has been welcomed by parents’ groups and social workers.

There, as ever, was a caveat. There will not be an upper age limit for adoptive parents. This is a valid concern, especially if the child being adopted is to be the couple’s first child. However, it would be a pity to preclude perfectly suitable and experienced people from offering a child a loving and supportive home.

It is good too to see that once ratified the law will preclude children from countries that have not ratified the Hague Convention, or with whom Ireland does not have a bilateral agreement, cannot be considered.

This may seem harsh but if it removes suspicions of babies-for-cash abuses then it is welcome too.