To support the viability of intercountry adoption as an option for permanency for children in Ireland, the Office of Children’s Issues and the U.S. Embassy in Dublin sought information from the Irish Central Authority regarding its legal requirements for the authorization of adoption service providers (ASP), pursuant to Article 12 of the Hague Adoption Convention.

Ireland ratified the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) on July 28, 2010.  The Convention entered into force on November 1, 2010.  The Irish Central Authority for Intercountry Adoption is the Adoption Authority of Ireland.

The Irish Central Authority confirmed there are currently no requirements for a foreign provider to be authorized in Ireland and that intercountry relative or known child adoptions would be handled on a case-by-case basis.   

ASPs with questions about the information above should contact the Irish Central Authority, Adoption Authority of Ireland, Telephone from Ireland: 01-2309300, Telephone from U.S.: 011-353-1-2309300, Email: info@aai.gov.ie, Website: www.aai.gov.ie.

For additional information, ASPs may wish to review the Ireland country-information page.