Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for clarifying that matter. That is what I thought and obviously that would be a very serious situation. I accept what the Minister of State says that every effort is being made to conclude the agreement with Vietnam, which will be reassuring to prospective adoptive parents who are obviously waiting to hear and want it concluded as quickly as possible. I hope the negotiations are going well. I also take the point that the best interests of children should be the guiding principle. When making these arrangements we do not want to compromise on our standards of what is best for children. Obviously that is core and I am sure is a core part of the Government's negotiations.

Nevertheless the amendment involves a principle. Obviously this is not just about the negotiations with Vietnam or Russia. The principle is that the Minister should be accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Having the Minister report back and give information to the Houses about the bilateral agreements is in the interests of the process, the children and the parents. It is about information and transparency, and accountability to the Houses. I do not believe the amendment would compromise in any way the Government's negotiations on international bilateral agreements. We are asking that the Houses be kept informed. If we have the Hague Convention and also bilateral agreements, the Minister should indicate to both Houses the stage of the negotiations on bilateral agreements and whether he is expecting agreement. That would be reassuring to prospective adoptive parents who would then know it is in hand. It also keeps the pressure on the Department to review the bilateral agreements and negotiate new agreements where necessary.

This is a principled approach in the interests of the prospective adoptive parents and the children. It would not interfere with the Government's negotiations. It certainly would not interfere with its current negotiations on Vietnam. The date for that is 1 May and the Minister of State has given as much information as he is in a position to give, which I welcome. I understand the sensitivities. I wish the Minister of State every success in the negotiations in the coming weeks. Obviously it is in the interests of the families, who have been in touch with us, and their children as well as for future adoptions that this bilateral agreement would be concluded as soon as possible. The best conditions should be agreed by both sides and written into it.