Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 555: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will confirm when she expects adoptions from Vietnam to resume; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35504/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Vietnamese authorities deposited the instrument of ratification of the Hague Convention earlier this month. Therefore, the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption will enter into force for Vietnam on 1 February 2012. As provided for in Section 72 of the Adoption Act, 2010, the Adoption Authority may establish administrative arrangements concerning the processing of applications with other Hague countries in relation to intercountry adoptions. Preliminary discussions have taken place regarding official visits and exchange of information between Ireland and Vietnam with a view to putting in place administrative arrangements under Section 72 of the 2010 Act.

While the Hague Convention will take effect in Vietnam in February next, it is not yet clear how soon after that arrangements will be in place, in both jurisdictions, to allow inter country adoption recommence. It might also be anticipated that for any sending country, commencing implementation of the Hague framework, will begin slowly and may prioritise children with higher levels of need. While every effort is being made by Irish authorities to develop the necessary administrative agreement and other requirements, certain operational elements of the process are purely a matter for the sending country.