The Adoption Authority of Ireland is an independent body established on 1 November 2010 under the Adoption Act 2010. The purpose of the Adoption Act 2010 is to improve standards in both domestic and intercountry adoption. Legal adoption was first introduced in Ireland under the 1952 Adoption Act. Our mission is: “to ensure the provision of the highest possible standards of adoption related services, throughout the lifelong adoption process, with the best interest of children as the first and paramount objective".