Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm the date and venue of the meeting expected to take place before the end of September 2009 between her and Vietnamese officials to finalise a new draft bilateral inter-country adoption agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32351/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I outlined in some detail the developments regarding discussions on a bilateral inter-country adoption agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam last week. I referred, in particular, to two significant reports which have been undertaken regarding child welfare, protection and adoption in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Firstly, in August, 2009, the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, with the technical assistance of UNICEF in that country, published a report entitled "Creating a protective environment for children in Vietnam: An assessment of child protection laws and policies, especially children in special circumstances in Vietnam" .

Secondly, a draft report on inter-country adoption in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has been prepared by the International Social Services (ISS). This report was commissioned by UNICEF in co-ordination with the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice. It aims, inter alia, to "identify and address problems in both domestic and Intercountry Adoption processes with a view to assisting Vietnam in its preparations to ratify the Hague Convention".

While work is continuing on the draft of the Agreement under discussion, the scheduling of a meeting between officials of both countries will await the outcome of my consideration of these two reports. I am currently awaiting finalisation of the ISS Report.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a bilateral adoption agreement with Russia; and when she expects such an agreement will be finalised. [32362/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputies are aware, 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 23 January, 2009.

Under the proposed new legislative regime, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention as well as from those countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement based on Hague standards. As part of the preparations for the likely passage and entry into force of these new legislative arrangements, my Office has been liaising with the Department of Foreign Affairs to identify and negotiate with countries who continue to seek homes abroad for children in need of alternative care that cannot be provided domestically. We are working actively to assess the possibilities of entering into bilateral inter-country adoption agreements with a small number of countries, including with the Russian Federation.

Ireland has no official bilateral inter-country adoption agreement in place with the Russian Federation. However, preparatory work to consider the contents of a draft agreement with the Russian authorities is currently being undertaken. While every effort will be made to conclude a bilateral inter-country adoption agreement with the Russian Federation, it must be acknowledged that this matter will be determined to a considerable degree by the Government of the Russian Federation.

I believe that it would be imprudent to indicate at this time as to whether or when an agreement can be reached with the Russian Federation. However, I will continue to advance this matter with the assistance of my colleague Minister Martin and of his officials in both Dublin and Moscow. Any applicant who is seeking to proceed with an adoption from a non-Hague country, or from a country with which Ireland does not have a bilateral agreement, should have regard to the likelihood of the adoption being completed in advance of the Adoption Bill being commenced.