(1)  The court shall not make an order for the adoption of a child unless the court has received a report in writing on behalf of the Secretary or the principal officer of an approved agency concerning the proposed adoption and, after considering the report and any other evidence before it, the court is satisfied that–

(a) the prospective adoptive parents –

(i) satisfy the prescribed requirements relating to approval of adoptive parents; or

(ii) satisfy those prescribed requirements as varied by the Secretary under subsection (6) ; and

(b) the Secretary or principal officer has given consideration so far as practicable to any wishes expressed by a parent of the child, particularly in relation to the religion, marital status, sexual orientation, race, or ethnic background of the prospective adoptive parents of the child; and

(c) the Secretary or principal officer has given consideration to–

(i) any wishes expressed by a parent of the child at the time when consent to the adoption was given or dispensed with about access to, or information about, the child, including notification in the event of the death of the child; and

(ii) any arrangements agreed between a parent of the child and the prospective adoptive parents of the child for access to the child or for the giving of information about the child; and

(d) the welfare and interests of the child will be promoted by the adoption.

(2)  Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to an order under section 19 for the adoption of a child who has attained the age of 18 years before the making of the order but the court shall not make an adoption order in such a case unless it is satisfied that special circumstances exist in relation to the welfare and interests of the child which make it desirable that the child should be adopted.

(3)  The report on behalf of the Secretary or the principal officer of an approved agency may be made by the Secretary or the principal officer of an approved agency or by a person authorized by the Secretary or principal officer in writing, either generally or in any particular case.

(4)  Except in the case of an adoption referred to in subsection (5) , the court shall not make an order for the adoption of a child unless the court has received a report in the prescribed form as to the physical and mental condition of the child, signed by a medical practitioner who examined the child not more than 60 days before the date on which the application for the order was filed in the court.

(5)  Subsection (4) does not apply in relation to the proposed adoption of a child –

(a) who has attained the age of 18 years; or

(b) by a spouse of a natural parent of the child, by a person who is, or whose spouse is, a relative of the child, or by 2 persons who are relatives of the child.

(6)  At his or her own discretion or on written application by a principal officer, the Secretary in writing may vary the prescribed requirements relating to approval of particular prospective adoptive parents, by altering or omitting any one or more of those prescribed requirements, if the Secretary is satisfied that there are special circumstances relevant to the needs of a particular child.