Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the negotiation of a new bilateral inter-country adoption agreement between Ireland and Vietnam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46363/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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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.

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.