Written answers

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Department of Health and Children

Inter-Country Adoptions

10:00 pm

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 170: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has revoked the adoption mediation licence of Helping Hands; and if so, the reason for such a decision. [24419/09]

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency is a registered adoption society that is registered by the Adoption Board and was, until very recently, licensed by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Helping Hands remains registered as an adoption society in Ireland under the Adoption Acts, 1952–1998.

As the Deputy is aware, I was informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs on 12 June last that the Vietnamese license held by Helping Hands had been revoked by the Vietnamese authorities. The Government had previously requested that this license be suspended rather than revoked in light of the on-going discussions with Vietnamese officials on a strengthened bilateral inter-country adoption agreement. Unfortunately, in the absence of a full agreement between Ireland and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Government was not in a position to make any exception to the granting of a license to Helping Hands. As a consequence, 20 applications, which are currently in Hanoi, will be returned to the respective applicants. These applicants were not given referrals before the 1 May 2009 deadline.

This is obviously disappointing news for all concerned. I subsequently advised the representative groups on these developments, and the applicants involved were also contacted by Helping Hands. Despite these events, I must emphasise that all of the applicants who have already received a referral in respect of a child from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will have their applications processed to conclusion, and applicants will be supported by Helping Hands in that process, by agreement with the Vietnamese authorities.

The reinstatement of the Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency's license would be a necessary part of any interim or new inter-country adoption agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. As such, the Government is actively trying to establish the status of its request for an interim inter-country adoption agreement, presented to the Vietnamese authorities on 20 May last, and the associated licensing requirements.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a sovereign state and the decisions that it makes regarding the internal regulation and management of its adoption services must be treated sensitively as appropriate to a sovereign state. My priority is to conclude discussions with the Vietnamese Government on a strengthened bilateral inter-country adoption agreement and avoid any debate outside of that process that could potentially jeopardise or interfere with these discussions.

I can assure the Deputy that the work to prepare for and advise the Government on a strengthened bilateral inter-country adoption agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has been given, and continues to be given, the highest priority. I have explained the reasons for the renegotiation of the existing agreement and am acutely aware of the stress and anxiety that this process has caused to many prospective adoptive parents.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.