This report details the findings of consultations with children and young people to inform the drafting of adoption regulations that will set out how the Adoption Authority of Ireland or Court will hear the views of the child in his or her adoption order hearings. The children and young people consulted had already been adopted or were currently going through the adoption process.

The main objectives of the consultation were to get the views and experiences of children and young people on expressing their own views to the Adoption Authority of Ireland or the Court, on nominating a person to express their views, and on who they would like that person to be. The methodologies used during the consultation included various exercises and discussions focused on different aspects of the adoption journey. The key findings highlight the significance of the adoption order hearing, the desire for children and young people to have a voice and choice in the process, and recommendations to improve the hearings to be less intimidating and less formal.