Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the delay in finalising the bilateral agreement between Ireland and Vietnam; the consequences of this delay for the families involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24530/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The process on this matter has been on-going for many months now and the dialogue with the Vietnamese Authorities is continuing. Many Deputies have sought guarantees and specific timeframes for the conclusion of a new agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I must reiterate previous remarks made on this point.

At this juncture, all options, including an interim inter-country adoption agreement, are actively being pursued by the Government to allow for the conclusion of discussions on a strengthened bi-lateral agreement and to facilitate continuity of the strong and positive relationship between both jurisdictions. It is not possible for me to either give a timetable or anticipate when discussions on the agreement will be finalised. Discussions on a new bilateral agreement remain live and the request regarding the negotiation of an interim arrangement has been made. It is now a matter for the Vietnamese authorities. My officials and the Embassy in Hanoi are in constant contact with officials in the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. As the House is aware, I was recently in direct contact with the Vietnamese authorities regarding the matter. The Irish Government is actively trying to establish the status of the request for an interim agreement and the associated licensing requirements.

We remain completely committed to concluding discussions on the text of the bi-lateral inter-country adoption agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and have explained the reasons for the renegotiation of the existing agreement. The policy objective is the protection of children. The Government seeks to provide the best possible assurances around international adoption and to improve standards for children and the families who apply to adopt from abroad, in line with our commitment to ratify the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.