Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the small number of adoptions with Vietnam that are outstanding and that she has agreed to progress; if it is expected that a bilateral agreement with Vietnam will be signed in the near future; when she expects a resolution on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22487/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It remains my intention to assist 20 named applicants to complete inter-country adoptions in respect of children from Vietnam on an exceptional basis and insofar as it is practicable in law. In communicating the decision to suspend the bilateral negotiations the Irish Government asked the Vietnamese Government whether it will be possible to proceed with these adoptions. The Vietnamese response was not definitive. The Government is attempting to put in place a mechanism in respect of these 20 applicants that safeguards against recent concerns raised in relation to inter-country adoption in Vietnam.

The Government decided to suspend indefinitely negotiations on a new bilateral inter-country adoption agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This will have the effect of suspending inter-country adoption from Vietnam until such time as the Adoption Bill, 2009 has been enacted and Ireland and Vietnam have both ratified the provisions of the Hague Convention. The Adoption Bill 2009 is currently at Report Stage and I hope will complete its passage through both Houses shortly thereafter.