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The Adoption Authority of Ireland wishes to inform all prospective adoptive parents undertaking an intercountry adoption that, with effect from 1st February 2011, the Authority will, as a standard administrative procedure for the subsequent registration of the foreign adoption, afford particular attention to all payments made either to any  entities or to any persons in connection with the administration and finalisation of the foreign adoption.

The Authority will reserve the right to seek evidence, by way of documentary proof, of the amounts of all such payments. This may require the production by adopters of original invoices for payments and original receipts of payments made.

In cases where it becomes apparent to the Authority that unreasonable levels of costs have been incurred, and/or where it appears that undocumented ‘cash’ transactions may have taken place, the Authority must reserve its express statutory rights to refuse to grant an entry into the statutory ‘Register of Intercountry Adoptions’ in respect of the adoption concerned.

See also NOTICE below of 21st January 2011

Notice – Making of monetary payments within the intercountry adoption process

The Adoption Authority of Ireland wishes to draw the attention of all prospective adoptive parents (PAP’s) undertaking an intercountry adoption into Ireland from a foreign jurisdiction to the fact that the very greatest care must be exercised at all times as regards the matter of any payments which are made in relation to any part of the adoption process.

There should be no payments made to any person or body which remain undocumented by way of absence of formal documented written receipt.