Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I wish to raise two matters. It is reported that the Government does not propose to sign the optional protocol of the United Nations convention on economic, social and cultural rights that is opening for signature this week. Will the Tánaiste indicate whether the Government proposes to publish its reasons for not signing? Ireland was expected to sign this international instrument.

Has the Government considered the request it has received from a number of couples and agencies to introduce an interim agreement to handle the issue of Vietnamese adoptions?

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