Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she was informed of irregularities in the activities of a mediation agency (details supplied) which represents couples seeking to adopt Vietnamese children; when she requested the Adoption Board to investigate the mediation agency; the reason she did not request an external body or the Gardaí to conduct the investigation; when she expects the investigation to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45346/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs became aware of concerns around aspects of the operation of the mediation agency in question upon receipt of the 'draft Final Report' of the 'Assessment of the Adoption System in Vietnam' by International Social Service (ISS) in mid August this year. The Adoption Board were contacted immediately upon receipt of the draft report. The Adoption Board's role in registering adoption societies, including the mediation agency in question, make it the appropriate body to consider the issues raised. The matters under consideration in relation to the agency, along with the wider issue of adoptions from Vietnam are currently being considered in the context of the ISS, and the earlier MoLISA, reports.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she intends to negotiate a new bilateral agreement with Vietnam; the position regarding the future of inter-country adoptions and couples here who are at various stages of inter-country adoption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45347/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child. Future intercountry adoption arrangements will be governed by the terms of the Adoption Bill 2009 when enacted. The issue of transitional measures for prospective parents who are at a definable stage in the adoption process when the Bill is enacted and who wish to continue to adopt a child from a non-Hague, non-bilateral country, is being examined. Prospective adoptive parents have waited a long time and it is my intention to be as flexible as possible in relation to applicants.

I recently received the UNICEF report 'Adoption from Vietnam: Problems and Challenges' carried out by the International Social Service (ISS). I discussed the findings of the report yesterday with a number of groups representing persons wishing to adopt from Vietnam. I indicated that the report will be considered by Government and that a decision will be made in the near future with regard to future adoptions from Vietnam.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the agreements between Ireland and other countries for the purpose of inter-country adoptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45348/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently no bilateral agreements in place between Ireland and other countries for the purpose of intercountry adoptions.

The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child. Future intercountry adoption arrangements will be governed by the terms of the Adoption Bill 2009 when enacted. The Bill commenced its second stage process in Dail Eireann on the 18th November.