Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the timeframe in which she envisions a secure working agreement between Ireland and Vietnam for the resumption of adoptions will be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37780/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the Adoption Authority of Ireland will sanction an agency to work with Vietnam in order to facilitate inter-country adoption to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37781/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.

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 2012, it is not yet clear how soon after that arrangements will be in place, in both jurisdictions, to allow intercountry adoption recommence. Ireland is one of a number of countries interested in intercountry adoption from Vietnam, and it is a matter for the Vietnamese authorities to decide with whom and in what order they operate. It is also not within the control of the Irish authorities to guarantee the availability, numbers, age or the level of needs of children for intercountry adoption from that country. 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.

The position regarding the adoption agency referred to by the Deputy is that the application for accreditation by that agency is a matter for the Adoption Authority. The Authority informs me that they are awaiting information from the HSE on this matter.