73.— (1) The Authority, with the prior consent of the Minister and having regard for the principles of the Hague Convention, may enter into discussions with any non-contracting state concerning the possibility of the Government entering into a bilateral agreement with that state.

(2) If the Government, before or after the commencement of this section, has entered into a bilateral agreement with a non-contracting state concerning intercountry adoption, the Minister shall cause the agreement to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(3) If a bilateral agreement referred to in subsection (2) is amended, the Minister shall cause the amended agreement to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(4) Judicial notice shall be taken of a bilateral agreement, or an amended bilateral agreement, from the date on which it is laid before the Houses.