Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will support a matter (details supplied). [31658/08]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will support a matter (details supplied). [31659/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together.

I am aware of emerging concerns of the United States authorities regarding intercountry adoptions between the United States and Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Officials from my Office and the Adoption Board have been monitoring the situation and liaising closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and our embassy in Hanoi since these concerns emerged over recent months.

Adoptions between Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Ireland are regulated by a State to State agreement entitled the Agreement on Mutual Cooperation Concerning Adoption between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Ireland. Under the Agreement, it is a matter for the Vietnamese Authorities to determine that each child is legally available for adoption and for the Adoption Board to determine whether Irish applicants are eligible and suitable to adopt.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Office has been working to finalise a new Bill which will ratify the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. As part of the preparations for the likely passage and entry into force of the new legislative arrangements for adoption in Ireland, my Office has been advising the Department of Foreign Affairs on the potential implications of the legislation on existing arrangements and agreements for those countries which have not yet ratified the Hague Convention. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is one of those countries. These discussions, involving the Adoption Board and the Department of Foreign Affairs, include consideration of the re-negotiation of the existing Agreement with Vietnam to ensure it reaches the standards required under the new Bill. I hope to be in a position to open discussions shortly with Vietnam on a revised or new agreement, subject of course to the views and advice of my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. All of the matters referred to by the Deputy will be raised as part of those discussions. I would like to assure the Deputy of my attention to this issue.