Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position on the bilateral adoption agreement signed with Vietnam in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14782/09]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if direct contact has been made with the Vietnamese authorities since the draft new bilateral agreement on adoption was forwarded to them; and if there has been progress in allowing the current agreement to continue without interruption pending the full sign off of the new agreement. [14106/09]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the bilateral agreement for adoptions from Vietnam; when a new bilateral agreement will be agreed; her views on the couples who have completed the Health Service Executive assessment for foreign adoption, and more who are being assessed by the HSE and who are hoping to adopt a child from Vietnam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14162/09]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 72 of 31 March 2009, if she will provide a categorical assurance that there will be no gap between the expiry of the current bilateral agreement between Ireland and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in regard to inter-country adoptions and the introduction of the new one; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14314/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 86, 92 and 104 together.

The Adoption Bill 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, was published on Friday 23rd January.

Under the new legislation, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from countries which have also ratified the Hague Convention, and countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement which meets Hague standards.

While it is true to say that our current Agreement with Vietnam is based on Hague principles, as part of the preparations for our new legislation we need to ensure that our Agreement reflects the Hague Convention as comprehensively as possible. A new Agreement allows the opportunity to elaborate and strengthen some existing provisions to meet the standards which have been set in draft legislation. There have been considerable developments in inter-country adoption in Vietnam since the Agreement was signed 5 years ago. This progress also needs to be reflected in any new Agreement.

In December 2008, the Irish Government issued a formal request to the Vietnamese Authorities stating that we wish to enter into discussions immediately for the purpose of negotiating a new Agreement to follow on from the existing Agreement which will expire on 1 May 2009. The Vietnamese Authorities have responded positively to Ireland's request.

Ireland offered to provide the Vietnamese Authorities with the text of a draft agreement as a basis for negotiations. A draft bilateral agreement for inter-country adoption was delivered on 6 March, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, to the Vietnamese Authorities for their consideration. I am pleased to inform the House that the Vietnamese Government have invited a delegation from Ireland to discuss the provisions of the draft agreement provided. The delegation will travel in the coming weeks for an intensive round of discussions on the draft agreement.

I would like to again reiterate my personal commitment and the commitment of the Government to conclude an agreement with Vietnam.

As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has a long and positive relationship with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam but I must also emphasise the need to respect the authority of that jurisdiction, having regard to the sensitive nature of discussions regarding inter-country adoption.

The work to prepare for and advise the Government on this issue and the implementation of Government's decisions is being given the highest priority. These are complex matters which require careful consideration. At all times, the Minister and the Government, and officials advising them, are guided by the need to respect and protect the best interests and rights of the child.