20Adoptions may be arranged by Secretary or by approved agency

20 Adoptions may be arranged by Secretary or by approved agency S. 20(1) amended by No. 46/1998 (1) For the purposes of this Act, arrangements or negotiations for or towards or with a view to the making of an adoption in favour of any person or persons may be made by or on behalf of the Secretary or by or on behalf of an approved agency. S. 20(2) amended by No. 46/1998 (2) Arrangements or negotiations referred to in subsection (1) may be made by any person authorized in writing for any specified purpose or purposes, either generally or in any particular case, by the Secretary or the principal officer of the approved agency. S. 20(3) amended by No. 46/1998 (3) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, an order shall not be made for the adoption of a child unless arrangements or negotiations for or towards or with a view to the adoption of the child have been made by or on behalf of the Secretary or by or on behalf of an approved agency. S. 20(4) inserted by No. 32/2000 s. 5(3). (4) Nothing in subsection (3) prevents the doing of anything required or authorised to be done by the Hague Convention. S. 20A inserted by No. 72/1997 s. 9.