Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

These issues did not slip through his fingers. He is in the process of dealing with another Government to ensure the arrangements to which we all subscribe work effectively, ethically and on an above board basis. That is something which is as important to the parents who are expectant and hopeful that these matters can be resolved quickly as it is to the Irish and Vietnamese people. We must ensure the arrangements we enter into uphold and respect ethical issues and the rights of parents and everybody involved. These are matters of huge import about which there can be no ambiguity. It is important that they are resolved to everybody's satisfaction, including the sovereign Government of Vietnam and this Government. We must not end up in a situation which none of us wants to see.

That is the context in which these discussions are taking place. We are anxious to obtain finality to the discussions as soon as is possible and feasible-----

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