Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

With regard to adoptions of children from Vietnam, I support the remarks of Deputy Coveney. The relevant legislation in this area is the Adoption Bill, which has passed through the House but which has not yet been considered in the Dáil. Is it intended to put that legislation on hold? Many countries have not signed the Hague convention or do not have bilateral agreements; this is where the difficulty lies. It is not just an issue pertaining to Vietnam because the case of Ethiopia has also come to light. There is a long recess ahead, albeit not as long as it may have been in other years, during which we will not be able to deal with these issues. For the sake of the families in question, we need a response from the Tánaiste on behalf of the Government before the summer break.

See this speech in context