Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Government is aware of the concern and anxieties that this process is causing to prospective adoptive parents. However, the Government is also firmly committed to ensuring that arrangements between Ireland and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam protect the best interests of the children, their families and prospective adoptive parents. The Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs has communicated at every opportunity to update prospective adoptive parents and their representative groups on these matters and has already committed to continuing with this process. Therefore, he is seeking to negotiate a new strengthened agreement in this respect.

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