Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason it is proposed not to renew the bilateral agreement between Ireland and Vietnam for inter-country adoption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45117/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I advised Deputies on 18 November and 3 December last that officials from my office and the Adoption Board travelled to Vietnam in the previous week to commence discussions on the negotiation of a new bilateral agreement with Vietnam in light of the expiration of the current agreement in May 2009. A report on the visit has been completed and is currently under consideration. I will discuss any further steps with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the first instance.